Kashō Shōeidō (菱匠 松栄堂) is an indispensable part of any discussion of Ichinoseki, Iwate, a castle town.
At Shōeidō, celebrated confections line the shelves, including “Tamura no Ume,” said to have once been presented to the local lord, and the popular treat made with local mochi, “Goma-suri Dango” (sesame-coated rice dumplings).
The Shōeidō main store also has a café where you can relax!
Our staff visited the Shōeidō main store, so please enjoy this as if you were visiting yourself.
Inside Kashō Shōeidō! A Café and a Space Full of the Charm of Traditional Confectionery-Making
Ichinoseki, a castle town in southern Iwate Prefecture, is lined with venerable long-established shops.
The streets retain traces of the past, giving the area an atmosphere as if you’ve stepped back in time.
Here you’ll also find Shōeidō, a long-established confectionery shop founded in 1903 (Meiji 36).
This is the Shōeidō main store. Parking is located behind the building.
Unfortunately it was raining that day! We weren’t able to photograph the charming streetscape of the Ichinoseki castle town…
(We’ll introduce it properly another time!)
Let’s step inside the store.
Japanese sweets, Western sweets, gifts — many products line the shelves.
These are seasonal “jōnamagashi” (fine fresh confections).
A craftsman awarded the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “Contemporary Master Craftsman” prize is at work here.
You can watch this from inside the shop.
The craftsman’s technique is truly beautiful!!
Each jōnamagashi embodies meanings of “the four seasons,” “culture,” “tradition,” and “events,” along with the craftsman’s own thoughts and feelings.
And at the back of the store, a relaxing café space!
There is Wi-Fi and power outlets at the seats.
Isn’t this the perfect spot for a break while sightseeing in the castle town of Ichinoseki?
《 Recommended nearby sightseeing spots 》
Kyoya Dyeing Shop (a 2-minute walk from Shōeidō)
Sekinoichi Sake Brewery (a 4-minute walk from Shōeidō)
Also, the main store apparently holds confectionery-making experience workshops from time to time!
This “Open Factory Gokan-ichi (Five Senses Market)” is highly recommended.
(Held in November 2019. Look forward to the next one!)
A rare opportunity to experience refined traditional techniques firsthand.
Please come and experience the real pleasure of craftsmanship in person.
Shōeidō’s Appeal Lies in the History Unique to the Castle Town of Ichinoseki
At the Shōeidō main store, you can experience not only the sweets themselves but also history and culture through them.
Continuing to the back of the store and out the rear, you’ll find a charming garden.
And we were shown around this storehouse (kura).
We were told it’s open to the public on holidays such as Golden Week.
What could be inside the storehouse!? Feeling excited, we stepped in.
Many precious exhibits were lined up inside!
You can view old photos of the town, the history of the confectionery, models made of confectionery (even the cherry blossoms in the photo are said to be made of sweets!), old pamphlets, and more.
There are also exhibits about the Tamura lord, who had deep ties with Shōeidō.
This storehouse is apparently opened to the public occasionally, on holidays such as Golden Week!
If it happens to be open, please take the opportunity to see the history of Shōeidō and Ichinoseki here.
Speaking of Shōeidō! Introducing Ichinoseki’s Famous Confections, Tamura no Ume and Goma-suri Dango
How about these for a souvenir?
Made with an unwavering commitment to local ingredients, the confections of the historic Shōeidō make perfect souvenirs!
Recommendation #1: Tamura no Ume
A historic confection with a 100-year history, deeply connected to the Tamura lord.
Recommendation #2: Goma-suri Dango
A popular confection packed with the culture and ingenuity of Ichinoseki.
Access to the Shōeidō Main Store, With Its Café
The Shōeidō main store introduced here is about a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from BELLINO HOTEL ICHINOSEKI.
