Address: Miyagi-ken, Sendai-shi, Aoba-ku, Kimachidoori 1-2-35
Tel: 022-261-4490
Open time: Monday-Saturday→9:00-19:00:Sunday→10:00-17:00
Web site: n/a
Total spent: Small 1→60 Yen
Big (Kujira) 1→180 Yen
"Matsuen Monaka Honpo" is a small monaka shop that sells uncommon shape and 7 different flavors monaka.
The one with the uncommon shape is the "kujira monaka" that is a monaka in the shape of a whale (kujira).
If you ask why the shape of a whale, Suzuki-san (the owner) soon answers: "Miyagi was one of the great 3
places for whale fishing, but after whale fishing became illegal I wanted to preserve this memory".
And the 7 flavors that carry the happiness from the sea and is the image of a complete japanese breakfast.
The monaka wafers are made from mochi so this is the image of the rice in the breakfast. The 7 flavors each
has an image as follow:
・Sendai Miso is the miso-shiro;
・Okara is the tofu in the miso-shiro;
・Azuki is the bean (nato);
・Kuro-go is the sesame seed paste;
・Ao-nori is the seaweed;
・Macha is the japanese tea commonly drank after the breakfast;
・Coffee is for the youngsters that are changing the japanese tea for coffee these days;
The monaka from Matsuen Monaka is all handmade with no addition of food additives which makes them delicious.
And you can also keep them in the fridge for over 2 weeks and they won't harden. You can just take them from the
fridge and eat them right away. It's very good.
A word from Suzuki-san:
To the foreigners
・When you come to Sendai please come try our delicious Kujira Monaka.
Sendai's good point:
・Sendai's suitable warm climate makes it a nice place to live.
・It's close to both the sea and the mountains and has a nice natural environment.
Shoji Suzuki(owner) and his wife. This two make very good handmade monaka.
The 7 flavors of Kujira Monaka. Okara, Sendai Miso, Azuki, Macha, Coffee, Ao-nori and Kuro-go.
Overview of the products. Simple monaka, kujira monaka and the kujira monaka packages.
Overview of the Kuro-go monaka packages.
Inside the store. There is a lot of photos of events with primary school students and copy of newspapers where the store appeared.
Wherever you look there are lots of pictures and other things related to whales.(^_^)
monaka ni ha
kujira no kinen
nokoteiru
Matsuen Monaka Honpo is located in a narrow street that can be difficult to find, but
once you're on the right street it's very easy to find. On the front of the store there
is a big blue signboard with whales dancing on it. You can't miss.
After entering the store the store we where promptly addressed by Suzuki-san who started
explaining the origin of the 7 flavors and the whale shaped monaka. As we heard the stories
we could try all the 7 different flavors. They were all very good but the ones with the
strongest taste to it were the Ao-nori and Kuro-go ones.
It is worth trying all the flavors (as you probably won't find them in other places), but to
those who don't like to try new flavors, the more usual ones (coffee, macha, kuro-go and azuki)
were also very good.
We also ate one kuro-go monaka that was being stored on the fridge. I think it is the best suited
flavor for the summer. My recommendation!
Concluding, if you want to meet a kind owner, eat delicious and oddly shaped monaka or try new
flavors, Matsuen Monaka Honpo is a very nice place.
