When shopping in Sendai, you can’t miss the three major shopping malls: Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port, Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets, and AEON MALL Natori, which has a direct service bus from Sendai Airport.
In addition, Sendai’s major sightseeing points and attractions are all easily accessible from these malls, so shopping here will fit right into your Sendai travel itinerary.
This article introduces each mall’s access, its unique features, recommended stores, and gourmet food shops and restaurants, so by the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly where to buy souvenirs and where to eat like a local!
Finally, there is also information on special discounts, so read on and find out about the best deals in Sendai.
1. Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port
Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port is the largest outlet mall in Tohoku, with about 120 different shops. It is located between Sendai Airport, the city's “gateway to the skies,” and Matsushima, a sightseeing spot recognized by the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
This Sendai outlet is conveniently located, making it an easy attraction to incorporate into any sightseeing plan as a shopping spot.
There is also a Ferris wheel and an amusement park, perfect for those with children. The Sendai Umi-no-Mori Aquarium is also just a 10-minute walk away.
Getting to Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port
By car: It is around 30 minutes from JR Sendai Station via Japan National Route 45, and around 20 minutes from Sendai Airport via the Sendai-Tobu Road.
By bus: It is recommended to use public transit on weekends due to traffic. An express bus runs daily through the Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port and travels from Sendai Airport to Matsushima and Hiraizumi, a world heritage site in Iwate Prefecture. Some buses can be taken from the JR Sendai Station and the Sendai Subway Tozai Line Arai Station.
By train: Take the Sendai Airport Access Line to JR Sendai Station. From JR Sendai Station, take the JR Sengoku Line to Nakano-Sakae Station, which takes about 18 minutes, then walk about 8 minutes to the outlet.
Stores Popular Among Tourists at Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port
At Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port, you can find popular brand shops from Japan and overseas, ranging from high fashion to casual brands. There are also many outdoor shops and sporting goods stores. Here are five of the most noteworthy brands.
1. Samsonite
Samsonite is the world's top brand for traveling bags and suitcases. The Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port shop offers items tailored to any lifestyle, including business and casual bags, as well as suitcases.
2. Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban is a famous glasses and sunglasses brand that originated in the US Air Force. It has an established reputation for its UV cut-rate and design and has many dedicated users.
3. The North Face/Helly Hansen
This shop offers outdoor products by The North Face and sports apparel by Helly Hansen. The designs are both casual for use around town and functional, making them popular with customers young and old.
4. Mont-Bell/Mont-Bell Factory Outlet
Mont-Bell is a Japanese outdoor brand that develops products such as mountaineering equipment. One corner of the store is an outlet corner, where you can purchase authentic outdoor goods at a reasonable price.
5. ASICS Factory Outlet
ASICS is an internationally popular sports shoe brand. They have a wide lineup of footwear for running and walking, and for beginners and athletes alike. They also sell apparel, so be sure to check those out, too.
Featured Restaurants at Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port
Hungry? Head to a food court where you can enjoy plenty of famous Tohoku foods. There are specialty restaurants where you can enjoy various local meals, including Sendai’s Gyutan-yaki (grilled ox tongue) and seafood bowls made with freshly caught ingredients.
1. Uogashi-sen
This shop specializes in seafood bowls using freshly picked seafood. Our recommendation is the Kaisen-don (1,380 yen, tax included), a seafood bowl with plenty of fresh fish such as raw tuna, plump shrimp, and vibrant salmon roe. You can get a taste of specially-selected fresh fish at a reasonable price.
2. THE MOST BAKERY & COFFEE
This is a café-bakery by Hoshiyama Coffee, a long-established coffee shop from Sendai. About 30 different types of bread are freshly baked in-store several times a day. The most popular item is the “Junsei Shokupan” bread (800 yen for two pcs, tax included). Many people have gotten hooked on the rich taste of milk, butter, and condensed milk.
Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port Flower Ferris Wheel
When you visit this Sendai outlet, take a ride on the “Port Flower” Ferris Wheel, standing over 50 meters tall, for 600 yen (tax included).
Enjoy the scenic 13-minute ride overlooking Sendai Port and the mountains in the distance. Under the Ferris Wheel is the Amusement Park area, with plenty of fun character-themed playground equipment. This is a spot that guarantees a full day of fun for the entire family.
Duty-free Shopping at Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port
Mitsui Outlet Park Sendai Port has many services for foreign visitors. Tourists can receive discount coupons by taking tours and riding the express buses from Sendai Airport.
There are many duty-free shops, and even discounts available in some non-duty-free shops that only require showing your passport. Some specific credit cards, such as the Thai SCB card, Krungsriayudhya Card, or a Singapore UOB Card, also give limited discount coupons, so be sure to check out the official website and go do some shopping!
Get up to 10% off!
2. Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets
Sendai Izumi Premium Outlet is located in a green residential area on the outskirts of Sendai. This facility is inspired by the northeastern United States, and has a very resort-like atmosphere. It is 30 minutes by car from JR Sendai Station.
The neighboring shopping mall Izumi Park Town Tapio also has a food court with a variety of restaurants, as well as a drug store. Both are connected by a bridge, so you can conveniently shop between both locations.
How to access:
By car: It takes about 40 minutes by expressway from Sendai Airport, and about 30 minutes from JR Sendai Station.
By train & bus: Take the Sendai Airport Access Line that runs between Sendai Airport and JR Sendai Station. Transfer to Sendai City Subway Namboku Line at JR Sendai Station, and ride to Izumichuo Station, which takes about 25 minutes. From there, take a local bus or taxi to the outlet, which will take about 20 minutes.
5 Notable Brands at Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets
Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets features many recommended brands, from select casual wear shops to popular sporting goods stores, to children's clothing shop with adorable items, and more.
1. BEAMS
Beams is a well-known, select apparel shop, and this location is the only one in the Tohoku Region. There are a number of original outlet items for both ladies and men, ranging from casual, everyday wear to formal wear for business.
2. Nike Clearance Store
Nike is an American sneaker and sportswear brand known for its internationally recognized footwear such as Air Max and Air Jordan. The Nike Clearance Store only has two stores in Japan including this one, and features a lineup of shoes and apparel supplies that have been marked down.
3. Adidas
Adidas is an internationally popular German sports brand, popular in Japan not only for their footwear, but also for their wide selection of sportswear that combines functionality and design.
4. Gunze
Gunze is known for their comfortable underwear and functional inner-wear. The Outlet location sells many stockings and socks, as well as underwear, at reasonable prices, so it is also recommended to buy in bulk seasonally.
5. Mezzo Piano
This shop features a lineup of kids' clothes with a cute and fashionable style. There are both casual items as well as children's formal wear available.
Recommended Restaurants at Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets
Sendai Izumi Premium Outlets is dotted with cafes and sweet shops perfect for shopping breaks. There are many chic and trendy shops where you can enjoy your break in style.
1. Lindt
This chocolate brand was founded in Switzerland in 1845 and eventually expanded to over 120 countries around the world. You can pick your favorite chocolates and purchase by the bag, with both classic milk chocolate and seasonal flavors available. You can also order chocolate drinks and ice cream, and enjoy the sweet taste of the finest cacao in their eat-in space.
2. Tully’s Coffee
Enjoy specialty coffees from Seattle that are specially and individually brewed in this cafe. They serve a wide variety of coffees, teas, soy milk lattes, frozen drinks, and even fruit juice. There are also lunch menu items such as sandwiches, and sweets such as hot cakes.
More Shopping at Izumi Park Town Tapio!
Izumi Park Town Tapio is next to Sendai Izumi Premium Outlet and is accessible via the connecting bridge. Some shops feature everyday wear and gifts and souvenirs, including “bene posto,” which specializes in outdoor casual wear, and “Mokushido,” which sells natural sundries.
There are also many restaurants and coffee shops. The food court is lovely and convenient to stop by between shopping. If you start to get tired, drop by for some sweet, melty crepes at MOMI & TOY'S.
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IZUMI PARK TOWN Tapio泉パークタウン タピオ
- Address 6-5-1 Teraoka, Izumi-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
- Phone Number 022-355-5500
・Hours: 10:00AM~8:00PM, Food Court until 9:00PM, Restaurant from 11:00AM~10:00PM (services vary by shop)
・Regular Holidays: Jan 1, 3rd Thursday in February
Duty-free Shopping at Sendai Izumi Premium Outlet
Visit the information center if you have any questions. Discount coupons can also be obtained by showing your foreign passport, letting you shop at prices discounted even lower than the regular outlet prices.
Additionally, you can check their official website, which is also available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai, for which shops accept banknote cards and which are duty-free.
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SENDAI-IZUMI PREMIUM OUTLETS®仙台泉プレミアム・アウトレット
- Address 6-1-1 Teraoka, Izumi-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
- Phone Number 022-342-5310
Business Hours: 10:00AM~8:00PM
Regular Holidays: Jan 1, 3rd Thursday in February
3. About AEON MALL Natori
AEON MALL Natori is one of the largest shopping malls in Tohoku. It has a wide variety of stores, so there’s something here for everyone, regardless of age. Large coin lockers (cart lockers) for suitcases are available on each floor, hence you can enjoy the mall without the burden of your luggage. You can spend a whole day in this large facility, therefore it’s a great plan for rainy days.
How to access:
The nearest train station to AEON MALL Natori is Morisekinoshita Station. It is directly accessible from Sendai Station and Sendai Airport by the Sendai Airport Access Line, making it a convenient place to do some shopping during your trip.
Stores Popular Among Tourists at AEON MALL Natori
At AEON MALL Natori, you can find many stores that are loved by international customers. These include AEON supermarket, high-quality casual clothing store UNIQLO, a collaboration brand by 2 Japanese electronics giants, Kojima x BicCamera, and simple houseware and clothing store MUJI. Shops specializing in sports, such as Sports Authority and Murasaki Sports, are also popular.
Happiness, a store offering imported high-brand goods, and the additive-free Japanese cosmetic brand FANCL, are popular choices for souvenirs. However, if you are looking for something uniquely Japanese, head to Wamonoya-Kaya, where you can find charming Japanese variety goods at affordable prices.
Duty-free Shopping at AEON MALL Natori
The latest hair dryers sold at Kojima and BicCamera are very popular because of their unique Japanese features. Don’t forget to apply for duty-free access at these stores!
Other tax-free stores include Zoff and Optic Paris Miki for eyeglasses, jewelry store TSUTSUMI for beautiful accessories, and Cosmeme for cosmetics.
After Too Much Shopping, Go to the Post Office
If you buy too many souvenirs, you can ship them from the post office in AEON MALL Natori. EMS (Express Mail Service) can be used to ship up to 30kg to over 120 countries and territories around the world. A free guarantee of up to 20,000 yen is available, and up to 2 million yen in damages depending on additional charges (duty-free items must be brought to the airport).
Recommended Souvenirs at AEON MALL Natori
If you are looking to buy Sendai souvenirs, a variety of local sweets and sake can be found at affordable prices in the AEON supermarket. If you like Japanese food, you can pick up some of the finest seasonings and ingredients at Kuzefuku-Shoten. Kaldi Coffee Farm has imported ingredients from all over the world as well as foods made by unique producers in Japan.
If you have a sweet tooth, a trip to Confectioner Kasho-Sanzen is highly recommended. They have Sendai’s famous confectionary Hagi-no-Tsuki. The fluffy sponge cake filled with custard cream is so good that you can’t stop eating. If you like fresh whipped cream, go to Kikufukuan NAGOMI. Kikufuku is a Daifuku (rice cake) with red bean paste and fresh whipped cream inside; it’s so soft that it melts in your mouth. Kikufuku Zunda Fresh Cream is a popular flavor of Kikufuku that appears in the anime Jujutsu Kaisen.
Enjoy Sendai’s Specialties at AEON MALL Natori!
Sendai is famous for its gyutan (beef tongue). The Sendai way is to eat it with salt or miso. At Sendai Gyu-tan Fukusuke, you can taste authentic gyutan. If you want to eat delicious ramen, stop by Echigo Hizoumen Mujinzou. The noodles are made using a patented method and are wonderfully smooth and crunchy. For homestyle Japanese food, head to Gokoku to enjoy a wide variety of set meals with rice, miso soup, and delicious side dishes.
At AEON MALL Natori’s restaurants, food samples are displayed to give you an idea of what the food will look like, and the menus are often illustrated with pictures so that customers from overseas can order by simply pointing at the menu. Children’s seats are available in the food court, so small children can enjoy their meal in a seat that fits their body size.
Specialty Sweets and Unique Cafes of Miyagi!
At AEON MALL Natori, you can also enjoy local sweets and cafes from Miyagi Prefecture. A highly recommended item is the Zunda Shake, a special drink from Kasho Sanzen, which is healthy and full of edamame, a superfood. For a Japanese teatime, there is Kikusui-an NAGOMI. It is run by a long-established tea shop, so the attached eat-in cafe serves delicious green tea and matcha soft ice cream.
ELLE’s COFFEE, which opened its first location in Japan, offers delicious coffee, freshly fried doughnuts, and freshly made sandwiches, while SHICHINO CAFE, located on the second floor, is a popular local cafe that boasts pizza and pancakes. There is also a kids’ space, making it popular with families.
Services for Customers at AEON MALL Natori
AEON MALL Natori offers free playgrounds (Mokumoku Hiroba, Aozora Hiroba, etc.) for families. Shopping carts with cute characters are available to carry children around. Children’s restrooms and baby rooms are available.
There are multilingual signs for customers from overseas, and multilingual support at the information desk using translators so that customers can enjoy their shopping experience with peace of mind.
FOREIGN TOURISTS ONLY TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM!
Enjoy Shopping in Sendai!
All of the shopping malls in Sendai introduced here are very popular, so they can get quite crowded on weekends and holidays with many local customers. You can have a good time by staggering your lunchtime a little or arriving before the busiest times to use the lockers.
Every mall has a large number of stores, so if you check out the stores you want before you visit, you won’t have to walk all over the place! Be sure to take advantage of the information counters to find where you can leave your luggage and what services are available for travelers.
Have fun shopping in Sendai!
*Due to the spread of Covid-19, shops may make changes to the hours and services available as well as close temporarily. For details, please refer to each official website or social media account.
Text by: SHOE PRESs
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*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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