Ichinoseki Omiyage (Souvenirs)

SNACKS

The following is a list of some the most famous souvenirs in Ichinoseki. *If you have severe allergies, make sure to double check the ingredients using translation tools/asking staff for assistance. The ingredients may have been updated.

1) Sanshoku Senbei (三色せんべい) A variety of baked rice crackers featuring almond, peanut, and sesame flavors. Peanut is the most favored among them, and you can choose to purchase that flavor separately if desired.

● peanut (flour, peanuts, sugar, margarine, eggs, salt, leavening agent) 
● almond (flour, sugar, margarine, eggs, almonds, salt, leavening agent) 
● sesame (flour, sugar, white sesame, margarine, egg, salt, leavening agent)  

2) Kamenoko Senbei (亀の子せんべい)

This turtle shell shaped cracker, is lightly glazed with sesame honey, offering a subtly sweet and salty taste. The cracker's crunch combined with the honey's stickiness creates an irresistible texture.

There are two types available: one with black sesame, providing a richer, earthier flavor, and another with white sesame, which I find slightly sweeter than the black sesame variety.

sugar, flour, ground sesame, egg, glucose, sesame paste, margarine, soy sauce, leavening agent

3）Nanbu Senbei (南部せんべい) Sasaki Seika: These traditional rice crackers come in three varieties: peanut, sesame, and soy sauce.

● peanut: flour, peanut, starch, sugar, reduced starch syrup, salt 
● sesame: flour, sesame, starch, salt, leavening agent
● soy sauce: flour, sesame, soy sauce, starch, sugar, salt, fermented seasoning, leavening agent

(use of pic permitted by Shoeidoh)

4) Gomasuri Dango (ごますり団子)

A delicate mochi filled with a luscious black sesame syrup. These are available frozen and will defrost in approximately 1-2 hours. If you need them to remain frozen longer, ice packs can be provided. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be refrozen once. They were featured in JoJolion, the eighth part of the manga series JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

rice flour, sugar, sesame paste, malt sugar, soy sauce (including wheat · soybean), starch, edible vegetable oils and fats, soybeans (yeast in genetically modified), salt, glucose fructose syrup

5) Gomasuri Dakkuwa-zu (ごま摺りダックワーズ) If refrigeration is a concern with the gomasuridango, consider opting for this sesame dacquoise instead! It features a crispy exterior and a soft, creamy interior.

Ingredients: egg, sugar, almond powder, edible processed oils and fats, rice flour, sesame, powder sugar, powder syrup, powdered soy sauce, coloring (charcoal powder, caramel), konjak potato extract, seasoning (amino acid), sweetener (licorice) may include wheat and soybeans)

(use of pic permitted by Shoeidoh)

6) Tamura no Ume（田村の梅） Mochi filled with a lovely jelly-like plum sauce, encased in an aoshiso (green perilla) leaf.

Sugar, white bean paste, reduced starch, starch syrup, mochi rice, plum, aoshiso, soybean, salt, olive oil, trehalose, citric acid, glycine

7) Sekinoichi Craft Beers Perhaps you'd like something to accompany those snacks. Sekinoichi sake is the most renowned brand in Ichinoseki, and in recent years, their beers have also gained popularity. While the sake isn't available at the station, their beers are!

If you have the time, visit the Sekinoichi brewery, which is just a 10-15 minute walk from Ichinoseki station. They offer a variety of sake, mochi and beers.

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If you are looking to buy more permanent souvenirs:

*Nambu cast ironware (南部鉄器 nanbutekki): for those who are a fan of tea, this is a true luxury item that will last you a lifetime. Originating in Hiraizumi (Iwate) with a history of about 900 years. The benefits of using Nanbu cast ironware include the water’s flavor enhancement, its great heat retention, its sturdiness and best of all, the teapot will give you an iron boost.

*Hidehira-nuri lacquerware (秀平塗 hideiranuri): this traditional craft of Iwate Prefecture dates back to Hiraizumi’s golden days. Signature attributes include gold-leaf motif accents, “Yusoku hishi monyo” which is a combination of diamond shapes and 'genji gumo' cloud pattern, a very hard, glossy lacquer base coating and colors black, vermillion and gold.

Products that you can purchase with this special lacquerware include traditional tableware to pens, phone cases and more.

Personalized souvenirs

Two major attractions of Ichinoseki (Geibikei and Genbikei) have experiences that can be turned into souvenirs. At Geibikei, you can try your hand at making Tozan Washi at Kamisuki-kan (within a 2min walk from Geibikei boats) which is traditional Japanese paper famous to the area. At Genbikei's Sahara Glass Park, you can try blowing your own glass. *You will need a Japanese address for the final product to be sent to you.