More than 60 kinds of bento boxes get made fresh in this store every single day. That is a lot of lunch decisions for one person to handle.
The rice comes from Japan. The fish arrives in daily shipments from places like Alaska, Hawaii, New England, and Seattle.
I like how this Ohio grocery feels like a small trip across the ocean without the passport. The snack shelves rotate, so the Pocky you spotted last month might have new neighbors today.
That kind of treasure hunt is hard to resist.
Then there is the free sashimi-style cutting at the seafood counter. Ask, and the staff will slice your sushi-grade fish for you.
The Fish Counter Gets Fresh Deliveries From Four Corners Of The Map
Alaska, Hawaii, New England, and Seattle all send fish to one Columbus grocery. Tensuke Market, llc gets daily shipments of wild-caught seafood from those faraway waters.
That’s a pretty impressive route for dinner to travel. It also explains why the seafood section is the heart of the store for many home cooks.
The market sells sushi-grade fish, which matters if you plan to eat it raw. Sushi-grade simply means the fish is handled with raw eating in mind.
That makes homemade sashimi night far less stressful.
Here’s the best part for beginners. The staff will cut your fish sashimi-style for free.
So you don’t need a fancy knife or years of practice. You just pick your fish and let the pros handle the slicing.
Shopping tip number one is simple. Head to the counter early in your trip, then grab rice and sauces while you browse.
Shopping tip number two is even simpler. Bring a cooler bag if you live far away, because raw fish and long car rides need careful planning.
Good Luck Picking Just One Of Sixty Bento Boxes
Sixty-plus varieties. Every day.
That’s how many bento boxes Tensuke Market makes fresh in-store, and it might be the friendliest problem in Ohio. You walk up hungry and suddenly need a strategy.
A bento box is a packed Japanese meal with several parts in one container. Think rice, a main dish, and small sides that keep each bite interesting.
The market offers both traditional styles and more creative ones. So a classic fan and a curious first-timer can both leave happy.
The rice deserves its own shout-out. The kitchen uses high-quality paddy rice from Japan as the base for these meals.
Rice is the foundation of a bento, so that choice matters a lot. A great topping on so-so rice never quite works.
My advice? Grab two different boxes and split them with a friend.
You’ll double your tasting range without doubling your lunch. You’ll also have a head start on picking a favorite for next time.
Bento boxes make an easy dinner, too. They’re handy on nights when cooking sounds about as fun as folding laundry.
Snack Shelves That Keep Changing Their Minds
Pocky fans, consider yourselves warned. The snack aisle here can turn a quick errand into a full research project.
Tensuke Market carries a big lineup of Japanese snacks, including favorites like Pocky and mochi. Pocky are those thin biscuit sticks dipped in coating.
Mochi are soft, chewy rice cakes that often hide sweet fillings inside.
The fun twist is that the selection keeps rotating. Something new could pop up between visits, and something you loved might take a break.
That means two things for shoppers. First, if you spot a treat you adore, buy a backup.
Second, leave room in your basket for one mystery pick. Japanese snack packaging is famously cheerful, so choosing by the cutest box is a perfectly fine method.
Kids especially love this section. It’s a tasty way to learn about another culture one wrapper at a time.
Planning a party or a movie night? Mix a few familiar choices with a couple of surprises.
Your guests get something comfortable plus something to talk about. Everyone wins, except maybe your willpower.
The Story Started With A Restaurant And A Love Of Fishing
Long before the bento rush, there was a restaurant. Owner Takashi Takenaka opened Akai Hana in 1987, one of Central Ohio’s first Japanese restaurants.
Three years later, in 1990, Tensuke Market opened as a Japanese grocery store. That makes it well over three decades old.
Takenaka’s vision grew from his childhood love for fishing and Japanese food. You can still see that passion in the market’s focus on fresh seafood.
A love of fishing turning into a Columbus landmark is a pretty great origin story. It beats most business plans scribbled on napkins.
Over time, the idea kept expanding. Today the market sits inside Japan Marketplace, a cluster of Japanese businesses at the same location.
That growth tells you something important. A small grocery found enough fans to build a whole community around it.
I believe that’s what makes this place feel meaningful. It isn’t a trendy pop-up chasing the latest food craze.
It’s a family-built destination that helped introduce Ohio to Japanese food. And it keeps doing that job with plenty of heart.
Your Pantry Is About To Get Seriously Upgraded
Miso, noodles, curry, rice, and a whole wall of soy sauce. Those are the building blocks of countless Japanese meals, and they all live here.
Tensuke Market stocks the pantry staples you need to cook at home. Want to try homemade curry or a cozy noodle bowl?
This is where the shopping list gets easy.
The store also carries specialty ingredients that regular grocery stores rarely touch. Hamachi collar is one example, a rich cut from yellowtail fish that’s great for grilling.
Kizami wasabi is another. It’s chopped wasabi with more texture than the smooth green paste most people know.
New to Japanese cooking? Start small with soy sauce, miso, and a bag of rice.
Those three items open the door to lots of simple dishes. Miso soup alone can become a weeknight habit.
Already a confident cook? Then the specialty items are your playground.
Ask staff if you can’t find something. A friendly question can save you ten minutes of wandering past the sauces.
Vegetables, Thin-Sliced Meats, And A Freezer Full Of Surprises
Daikon looks like a carrot that forgot to turn orange. It’s a mild Japanese radish, and you’ll find it in the produce section here.
The shelves also hold shiitake mushrooms, nappa cabbage, and kabocha. Kabocha is a sweet Japanese squash that turns soft and cozy when cooked.
Then comes the meat department. The staff prepare thinly cut meats in the Japanese tradition.
Why does thin matter? Super-thin slices cook in seconds, which is perfect for hot pot or quick stir-fry dinners.
Don’t skip the frozen aisle either. Ikaten, a fried squid tempura, waits in the freezer case.
Various fish cakes sit nearby, too. They’re easy to toss into noodle soup for extra flavor with almost no effort.
Here’s a simple dinner plan to try. Grab nappa cabbage, shiitake, thin-sliced meat, and a fish cake.
Simmer everything in a seasoned broth at home. You’ll have a warm, shareable meal that tastes like you planned it for days.
Sushi Made Next Door, Eaten Right Down The Hall
The sushi in the market case has a short commute. Sushi Ten, another business inside Japan Marketplace, prepares it fresh for Tensuke Market.
That teamwork is a big perk. You get restaurant-made sushi without waiting for a table.
Now, where do you eat it? The market doesn’t have its own dine-in area.
But Tensuke Ramen lets market shoppers use its dining room during ramen hours. So you can grab your sushi and sit down a few steps away.
Planning a lunch stop? Keep the food court hours in mind.
It serves daily from 11 AM to 3 PM, then again from 4 PM to 7:30 PM. That gap in the afternoon can catch hungry people off guard.
Sushi is also a smart road-trip pick. It travels well in a cooler and makes a fun picnic.
One easy combo is a sushi tray, a bento box, and a snack from the rotating aisle. That’s lunch, dinner, and dessert sorted in one trip.
A Whole Little Village Of Japanese Shops Surrounds The Market
Groceries are just the start of this stop. Tensuke Market sits inside Japan Marketplace, a collection of Japanese businesses gathered in one spot.
The lineup includes Akai Hana, Belle’s Bread, J Avenue, Tensuke Express, Sushi Ten, Tensuke Ramen, and the newer Yokoso Center. Belle’s Bread is a Japanese-style bakery, and J Avenue is a gift shop.
The complex features Japanese architecture, peaceful landscaping, and a garden area. It’s been described as a tiny portal straight to Japan, and that phrase fits nicely.
Plan for more time than you think. A grocery run can easily turn into lunch, a bakery treat, and gift browsing.
That’s not a bad way to spend a Saturday in Columbus. It sure beats another trip to a plain strip mall.
Bringing friends from out of town? This makes a great half-day outing.
Everyone can pick a favorite stop. Then you all meet back up with snacks in hand and stories to share.
Timing Your Trip Makes The Shopping Even Sweeter
Popularity comes with a small price, and it’s called a busy parking lot. Tensuke Market draws shoppers from across Ohio and neighboring states.
You’ll find the store at 1167 Old Henderson Rd, Columbus, OH 43220. It’s part of the Japan Marketplace complex on the city’s northwest side.
The good news is that parking is free. The market is also wheelchair accessible, which makes the trip easier for more families.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM. On Sunday, doors open at 11 AM and close at 8 PM.
Want the calmest trip possible? Weekdays are usually your friend, since weekends tend to fill up fast.
Bring a list, but stay flexible. The rotating snacks and daily bento lineup reward a little curiosity.
Driving in from elsewhere in Ohio? Pack an insulated bag for fish and cold items.
After more than 30 years, Tensuke Market, llc still makes Japanese food feel close to home. That’s worth the drive, and maybe a second bento for the road.
