Ichimonjiya Wasuke in Kyoto, Japan, is a historic family business with ancient ties. It's not only any old fashion candy store within this magnificent historical Japanese city; it is a significant, long-established bit of Kyoto history spanning 25 generations – not only in relation to cuisine but in spirituality and religion.
Also known as "Ichiwa" – the affectionate name given by loving local Kyoto-dwellers – this old confectioner has been serving mouth-watering traditional Japanese sweets for more than a thousand years; based on owners and historians, the original founder started his business around 1001 by serving roasted rice cakes, known within the Japanese language as "aburi mochi", to people and priests attending the nearby Imamiya Shrine.
Thought to advertise healing and recovery from disease, with lots of even believing they assist to defend against disaster, these tiny Japanese treats have been a celebrated delight amongst locals throughout history – even among visitors of the nearby local shrine, who have seemingly adopted the confectioner and it is sweet delicacies as part of their religious routine. Being an unofficial part of the ritual, worshippers often pray for good health insurance and fortune in the shrine, followed by tucking into Ichiwa's candied aburi mochi rice cakes.
And this practice isn't new; during past historic times during the famine and plague suffered at various points during the last thousand years, it's been believed that offering these tasty treats on bamboo skewers to the gods would deliver fortune and even protection from sickness, which has seen these beliefs converted into another ritual that many Shinto followers in this a part of town would stick to as homage to the gods.
What Is Aburi Mochi?
At Ichiwa, the aburi mochi is the very same aburi mochi that's been filling tummies in Kyoto ever since they exposed shop around 1001. This sweetened delicacy is the only item around the menu, and that's all the place needs and has all it's ever needed as evidenced by its millennium of solidified success.
Almost unchanged because the shop's beginning, the recipe of the renowned rice cakes is simple but effective. To have an even more fascinating sprinkling of tradition, they're in fact produced by the matriarch from the twenty-fifth generation from the original founder’s descendants – a longstanding, ever-lasting type of rice cake-makers who've prepared and produced the much-loved sweets for a thousand years.
These particular abura mochi are made traditionally if you take sticky and course pounded glutinous rice seasoned with "kinako" – a type of ground soybean flour – shaping them and wearing them bamboo skewers. Each skewer will be lightly baked over a hot charcoal fire, and for the very crowning glory, they're dressed having a sweet sauce of white or light brown miso. Not overpoweringly sweet, the delicious miso sauce provokes hunger, as the warm, toasty aroma teases the senses in the tempting moments before taking a bite.
The Building
The eating a part of one's visit to Ichiwa is just half of the knowledge; another is the old-world architecture and décor from the beautiful building alongside its charming exteriors and interiors. With history flowing through its foundations and walls, Ichiwa’s current building is really a assortment of several wooden houses – the most recent dating back the Taisho era at the turn of the last century, whilst on the other hand, the oldest goes as far back as the late seventeenth century.
Head inside, and one can admire a classic well that predates the age of the samurai – completely to the Middle Ages. In previous times, water used to be sucked from the well, which was used to result in the shop's abura mochi rice cakes, but that's no more the situation today because of sanitary reasons. Still, despite it not being in use in the modern-day, the well works as a nostalgic reminder of times of history, its presence evoking a unique sense of historic charm.
After having marveled at the shop, its architecture, and ancient features, it's time for you to start the real reason behind one's visit; to fill the stomach with Ichiwa's small sweet goods. Customers who would like to dine in the premises rather than taking away the abura mochi delight have two options; they can enjoy sweets both indoors and outdoors, either from the internal couches and tatami seating or on those outside the shop.
Whichever visitors choose, they'll relish the experience – not only for the delicious flavor and consistency of the sweet rice cakes which have been chowed recorded on at Ichiwa's for more than a thousand years – but for the chance to experience something that is somewhat spiritual anyway, something which a millennium of Japanese people have been enjoying in the same manner since 1001.
What To Know Before Visiting Ichimonjiya Wasuke
Visiting Ichiwa is essential for any curious traveler heading to Kyoto, and is an essential location for learning about the city's Shinto background and tradition – as well as being among the city's original establishments offering the same thousand-year-old delicacy and customer experience to its descending diners.
Hungry patrons should note that the joint is open from 10 am until 5 pm every single day, except for Wednesdays when it is closed. When it comes to candy glutinous grub, a single order of aburi mochi will see customers served with 13 skewers of the bite-sized rice cake all for a modest 500 yen cost – an affordable, culturally important snack even for budget travelers.
Furthermore, one may also notice that Ichiwa has a long-term rival just next door – a store named Kazariya that has been serving citizens of Kyoto delicious abura mochi for more than 400 years (not quite the thousand that Ichiwa boasts, but still a remarkable timescale nonetheless).
Perhaps guests with growling stomachs can also enjoy a portion of sweet skewered rice cakes from both stores to compare each's recipe – in the end, the 600 years' difference in culinary experience and customer service between the two is sure to showcase some variation, even when only minute.
