When it comes to daily life, knowing what kinds of stores sell what kinds of goods is an important factor. For example, when it comes to food, whether or not there's a supermarket nearby where you can buy groceries is more directly related to your daily life than whether or not there are restaurants where you can eat out.
Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, with a population of approximately 140,000, has a wide variety of shops to suit every occasion and mood, especially in the urban area around Ishinomaki Station. I, the author, who lives within a 5-minute walk of Ishinomaki Station, have never had any trouble finding what I need for shopping.
This time, we'll introduce nine shopping spots in Ishinomaki, focusing specifically on food and beverage-related establishments. We hope this column will help you get a clearer picture of what life is like there.
First up is "Ishinomaki Genki Ichiba," a market where you can find seasonal ingredients and local specialties from Ishinomaki. It's a bustling market that's popular with locals and tourists alike, regardless of whether it's a weekday or weekend, and it truly is a place where "the energy of the town comes together."
Located about a 10-minute walk from Ishinomaki Station, along the former Kitakami River, is the large building known as "Ishinomaki Genki Ichiba." There's also a multi-story parking garage right in front, which is free for up to two hours, so it's convenient for those traveling by car.
As soon as you step inside, you'll be greeted by a plethora of local ingredients. From fish to vegetables, fruits, and rice, you can truly feel the richness of Ishinomaki's food culture. If you're feeling like cooking at home, coming to "Ishinomaki Genki Ichiba" to buy your ingredients will surely make cooking more enjoyable.
In addition to groceries, they also sell bento boxes and other items. Price reduction stickers start being put on items in the evening, so if you want to buy a bento box at a bargain price, the evening is the time to go.
Furthermore, they have a wide variety of souvenirs, so be sure to stop by before you go home or travel. They stock items that can be used as souvenirs or for everyday use, such as canned goods and alcoholic beverages.
Location: 2-11-11 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0822
Since it's famous throughout Japan, I don't think I need to explain Aeon. Aeon Ishinomaki Ekimae Store is located right in front of Ishinomaki Station and is bustling with locals 365 days a year. In addition to the food section, there is also a 100-yen shop and a local vegetable stand, so you can find everything you need for daily life on the first floor.
What's interesting about the "AEON Ishinomaki Ekimae Store" is that the Ishinomaki City Hall occupies the floors above the second floor. A city hall integrated with a commercial facility is probably quite rare nationwide.
Furthermore, it's directly connected to Ishinomaki Municipal Hospital, and there's even a pharmacy on the first floor of "AEON Ishinomaki Ekimae Store," so it might be a place that residents of Ishinomaki will find themselves using frequently.
Location: 1st Floor, Ishinomaki City Hall, 14-1 Kokumachi, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0825
If you walk south for about two minutes from Ishinomaki Genki Ichiba, you'll see a traditional Japanese confectionery shop called "Kasaya Confectionery." The green flag with "Mame Daifuku" written on it is sure to catch your eye.
Upon entering, you'll find a wide array of delicious-looking Japanese sweets, including their signature wakame bean mochi, sweet potato treats, and castella manju. There were some sweets with unfamiliar names, but the staff kindly explained them to me when I asked.
I bought sweet potato and Chatsu (a baked confection made with sencha green tea) to take home. If you're craving sweets after a meal, be sure to stop by Kasaya Confectionery.
Location: 2-1-13 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0822
After the Japanese-style sweets, let's move on to Western-style sweets. As you pass through the bar district, you'll come across 'B.B Crepe & Cafe,' easily recognizable by its pink sign.
As the name suggests, this shop primarily sells crepes, but they also sell tapioca drinks. Perhaps attracted by the cute design, a child who looked to be around elementary school age came in with their mother to buy a crepe just before me.
After ordering at the stand and waiting a short while, a freshly made crepe arrived. Even though I'm over 30, I felt like a child again as I savored the crepe. There are several benches near the shop, so if the weather is nice, I recommend sitting on one and enjoying your freshly made crepe.
Location: 1-3-6 Tachicho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0824
Moriya Fruits is a fruit shop with colorful fruits painted on its exterior walls. Its beautiful design is truly eye-catching.
Contrary to what its name and appearance might suggest, this is essentially a "neighborhood kitchen," selling not only fruit but also a variety of other food items and household goods. You can find everything you need for your kitchen, from meat and vegetables to seasonings.
Of course, they also sell a wide variety of fruits. People living alone may not eat fruit very often. It would be nice to buy some for friends and family and share it with someone. As it is the closest grocery store to Roopt Ishinomaki Hiyorigaoka, those who move into the share house will likely have many opportunities to visit.
Location: 1-6-16 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0822
Now, I'll introduce two bento (boxed lunch) shops.
The first place I went to was "Nodaya," located next to the aforementioned Moriya Fruits. I was drawn in by the yellow and red "bento" (lunchbox) flag and decided to go inside.
As soon as you enter, you'll see a display of bento boxes, all handmade in the kitchen at the back. They also sell rice balls and cup noodles next to the register, so if you feel like a bento box isn't enough, don't worry!
This is recommended for those who want to eat a proper lunch but don't have time to cook or go out to eat, and who find convenience store bento boxes unappetizing. You can buy it right away and it's a convenient way to fill your stomach.
1-6-12 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0822
Another bento shop is "Sakuraya," located across the street from Nodaya.
This bento shop has a simple and sophisticated exterior design.
At Sakuraya, we produce and sell a different bento box every day.
Although they only offer one type of bento box per day, it's different every time you go, so you can enjoy the fun of trying to guess what kind of bento box it will be today.
The menu item I had when I went was keema curry.
When I bought a bento box, they gave me a menu showing the daily specials for the month.
This would be a good idea to stick it on your refrigerator at home.
The lineup includes classic bento boxes like nori bento, as well as tandoori chicken, grated shiso hamburger steak, and shrimp chili – a truly tempting selection.
Choosing a restaurant based on a specific reason like, "I want to eat this, so let's go to Sakuraya today," can be quite enjoyable.
Location: 1-4 Chuo, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0822
Ishinomaki Elementary School is filled with the cheerful voices of children from early in the morning.
Eating the prepared foods from the specialty deli "SONO" located behind it will revitalize both your mind and body.
That's not surprising.
The owner of "SONO," who moved to Ishinomaki from Shizuoka Prefecture, is a certified athlete food master and offers healthy side dishes backed by extensive knowledge.
The signs in the store also contain information about nutrition and other related topics.
Imagining how delicious it is is a great way to learn at the same time.
One of the unique features of 'SONO' is its building.
This shop is a renovated former barbershop, and its charm lies in the fact that it retains traces of its past while also clearly showcasing its identity as a deli.
If you're interested in utilizing or renovating vacant houses, you should definitely go and buy some prepared food.
Incidentally, the shop is located in a secluded spot off a one-way street next to Ishinomaki Elementary School, so you might get a little lost the first time you visit.
We recommend looking for the "SONO" banners and light blue signs as landmarks.
Location: 1-2-2 Izumi-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0832
The last place I'd like to introduce is "Pan Kobo Feel," a bakery located about a 5-minute walk from Ishinomaki Station.
Previously, we operated within the Ishinomaki Genki Ichiba market, but since August 2021, we have been manufacturing and selling handmade bread at our own independent store.
Stepping inside the white, Western-style building, you'll find a tranquil space filled with wood, where colorful breads are displayed.
All the breads on display at the shop, such as Ishinomaki Anpan (sweet bean paste bun), Wakame Salt Bread, and Round Cream Bun, are handmade in-house and have a wonderfully chewy texture.
This is a bakery I want to visit regularly.
At "Pan Kobo Feel," you can eat inside the shop or on the outdoor terrace.
On a warm day, it would be lovely to enjoy some bread on the terrace while having a lively conversation.
Location: 2-2 Sengoku-cho, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0827
This time, we introduced some food and beverage-related shopping spots in Ishinomaki.
I hope you'll find this helpful in all sorts of situations, whether you want to cook a meal, buy something to eat quickly, or just have a light snack.
Besides the shops I've introduced here, there are many other shopping spots in Ishinomaki city.
Try walking around town, popping into shops that catch your eye, and chatting with the owners to discover your own favorite shops and spots.
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