[Imamiya Shrine's Aburi Mochi]

Two aburi mochi shops face each other along the approach to Imamiya Shrine in Kyoto's Kita Ward. The northern shop, “Ichiwa (Ichimonjiya Wasuke),” was founded in the second year of the Choho era (1000 AD), making it Japan's oldest confectionery shop.

The origin of aburi mochi traces back to when Ichiwa's founder offered Koryu-ji Temple's famous kakimochi rice cakes during a ritual to ward off epidemics. The leftover rice cakes were then skewered on bamboo sticks, grilled, and eaten by worshippers. Aburi mochi, a temple gate confection believed to ward off illness and misfortune, consists of thumb-sized pieces of mochi skewered on bamboo sticks, grilled over charcoal, and dipped in white miso sauce. Its recipe has been passed down through a single lineage to the present day.

Walking along the approach to the east gate of Imamiya Shrine, the delightful aroma already wafts through the air. Both Ichiwa on the north side and Kazariya on the south side specialize solely in aburi mochi, with skilled artisans expertly grilling the mochi right at the shopfront. It's said these two shops offer distinct flavors, making it a tough choice which to try. Having visited Ichiwa before, I chose Kazariya when my mother came to Kyoto recently.

Inside the spacious tatami-mat room, I relaxed with a cup of tea before my order of 11 aburi mochi arrived shortly. Eating them piping hot, the toasted aroma, rich white miso flavor, and chewy texture were exceptional. This unique deliciousness, born from simple ingredients and preparation, made the 11 pieces disappear in no time. The space, with its breeze and afternoon sunlight streaming in, was so comfortable that I ended up staying longer than intended.

The approach to Imamiya Shrine here was also a filming location for the movie “Kokuho,” which gained attention this year. Along with visiting Imamiya Shrine, I highly recommend making your way to Kyoto's northern area to savor some aburi mochi.

Aburi Mochi Ichiwa (Ichimonjiya Wasuke)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gTUsfx3chZt7xP8H6 (*Closed annually from mid-December to year-end)
Aburi Mochi Honke Nemoto Kazariya
https://maps.app.goo.gl/51EGaB5uv1xK4nRD6 (*Closed annually from mid-December to year-end)
Imamiya Shrine
https://share.google/25p1BGu0DUy5Q5XL2
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/

References
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/一文字屋和輔
https://souda-kyoto.jp/blog/00165.html
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/b9d74e49bf635d97c682e4f6d135aa9fbe12d03e