Ichimonjiya Wasuke facts for kids
Ichimonjiya Wasuke (Japanese: 一文字屋和輔) is a super old sweet shop in Kyoto, Japan. It started way back in the year 1000! Imagine that – it's been open for over 1000 years. The same family has run it for 25 generations. That's a lot of family members making delicious treats!
The building where the shop is now is about 300 years old. It has many benches and small tables. This is a cozy spot for people to sit and enjoy their sweets. Locals often call the shop "Ichiwa" for short.
A Sweet History
This amazing shop was first opened to help people visiting a nearby holy place. This place is called the Imamiya Shrine, and it was built in 994. People would travel to the shrine to pray. After their long journey, they needed something to eat and drink. Ichimonjiya Wasuke was there to offer them tasty snacks and drinks.
What They Sell
Ichimonjiya Wasuke makes and sells special Japanese sweets called wagashi. These treats are often served with green tea. Their most famous sweet is:
- aburi-mochi (or "aburimochi") - This is a roasted rice cake covered in a sweet miso sauce. It's a very popular snack!
- They also serve green tea and other drinks.
Changes Over Time
Even though the shop is very old, it has made a few small changes over the years. This helps it keep up with modern times.
For example, the water used to make the mochi used to come from a small spring right in the shop's cellar. But health officials later said they couldn't use well water anymore. So, they changed their water source.
Also, they now use a special machine to pound the rice for their mochi. This makes the process easier and faster. After World War II, they also changed how they charged customers. Before, people would pay based on an honor system. Now, each plate of sweets has a set price.
See also
- List of oldest companies
External links
- "Oldest Wagashi store in Japan: Ichimonjiya Wasuke"
- Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/あぶり餅-一和一文字屋和輔-128558460613033/
