The Shokeikaku villa served as the Date family residence from the late 1800s until World War II. The Date family had ruled the Sendai Domain for thirteen generations from Aoba Castle. However, after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 they were forced to turn over their lands to the emperor. In 1884, the emperor granted the family the status of nobility. Shortly after that, the family purchased and moved into the Shokeikaku villa.

In 1980, the villa was donated to the city and some time after that converted into the fine-dining establishment it is today. It offers multi-course kaiseki lunch and dinner service, plus matcha green tea and sweets during a late afternoon tea time. After the meal, guests are taken on a tour of the residence. Most of the household rooms are well-preserved, giving diners an intimate glimpse into the lives of Sendai nobles.

Shokeikaku’s signature meal service is called Sendai tansu ryori, a traditional kaiseki meal with a twist. Like traditional kaiseki, the meal consists of seasonal, local ingredients meticulously prepared and served in grand multi-course fashion. The novelty of Sendai tansu ryori is that part of the meal is served in miniature tansu, the traditional multi-chambered wooden chests Sendai is known for.