Marukan Building Food Court
restaurant
Marukan Building Food Court
マルカンビル大食堂
Read about Omotenashi (hospitality)
Overview
A retro Showa-era department store food court saved from demolition by locals, famous for its towering 10-tier soft-serve ice cream cone eaten with chopsticks.
When Marukan Department Store announced its closure in 2016, Hanamaki residents rallied to save the beloved 6th-floor food court, and a local company purchased the building. The dining hall preserves its 1960s atmosphere with Formica tables, uniformed waitresses, and a menu of nostalgic yoshoku dishes. The star attraction is the legendary soft-serve cone: ten swirling tiers stacked so tall that it must be eaten with chopsticks. The entire experience is a time capsule of mid-century small-town Japan.
Local tips
The soft-serve is only 230 yen. Order it and eat with the provided chopsticks as locals do. The napoli-tan spaghetti and curry rice are also excellent Showa-era comfort food.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- マルカンビル大食堂
- Nearest station
- Hanamaki Station (JR Tohoku Line)
Want to visit Marukan Building Food Court?
Build a trip to Hanamaki