Murakamiya Mochi Shop: One of Japan's Top 100 Dessert Shops

Founded in 1877, Murakamiya Mochi Shop is a century-old mochi store and is listed as one of Japan's top 100 dessert shops on the food review website 'Tabelog.' On the day I visited, both the queue and the diners were all Japanese. I arrived half an hour before opening and was the first in line, and soon after, the line was filled with Japanese people. Whether dining in or taking out, the lines were very long. The shop is a 15-minute walk from Sendai Station, and there are no tourist attractions nearby, so people really come just to taste the flavors of this century-old shop. The signature item on the menu is the Three-Color Mochi (Sanshoku Mochi), which features three different flavors and colors paired with mochi: black 'black sesame paste,' green 'edamame paste,' and apricot 'nut paste.' The edamame paste has a slightly fibrous texture and is very smooth, the black sesame paste has a strong sesame aroma, and although I thought I might not like the nut paste before trying it, it turned out to be surprisingly delicious with a rich nutty flavor. All three flavors are very tasty, and after trying them, I understood why the shop is so famous. My personal favorite is the edamame flavor. 📍Address: 2-38 Kitamecho, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture 🕰️Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays) 💰Average Cost: 870 yen for Sanshoku Mochi (cash only)