Have a morning activity at the beginning of the month! What is “Tsutachi Mairi”? ? Introducing the charms of Okage Yokocho on the 1st of every month, such as Okage-yokocho porridge and morning market!
掲載日：2023.06.23
Did you know that IseCity has a culture called "Sakuhi Mairi"? It is said that Sakuhi Mairi began when people started praying to the guardian deity on the first day of the month. Just as everyone goes to visit the shrine on New Year's Day, the first day of the year, we use each month as a break to express our gratitude to God. We covered the morning activities that you can experience at Okage Yokocho, such as popular rice cakes that are only available for one day, morning market, and morning Okage-yokocho!
In Ise, there is a custom called Tsukitachi Mairi, where people visit IseJingu on the first day of every month.
This is a way to express gratitude for getting up early at the beginning of the month, and praying for a safe month ahead. In front of Naiku, various shops open from early morning to entertain the visitors who come to visit the temple on the first day of the month.
One of the most famous among them is Akafukumochi 's "Tsutsutachi Tsuitachi-Mochi". It's so popular that people start lining up early in the morning, and it can sometimes sell out as early as 7 a.m. I went to Akafukumochi store to buy such “Tsuitachi-Mochi”!
All 11 types are available! There is also a special feature on Tsuitachi-Mochi ♪
You can only eat it once a year! We featured Akafukumochi 's Tsuitachi-Mochi ♪
★Buy the famous mochi at Akafukumochi store!
Ise's famous confectionery, Akafukumochi, sells Tsuitachi-Mochi on the first day of every month (excluding January).
This mochi is only sold at certain stores, and the main store is famous for the long lines that form every month. In order to shorten the waiting time in line as much as possible, get the "reception number slip" that will be distributed in front of the main store from 17:00 the day before!
I arrived at the location just before 5pm, and there was already a line forming behind the main store. So I quickly lined up.
Tickets will be distributed from 5:00 pm, so please pick up your reception number slip.
This time, I got number 98. Isn't that a pretty early number?
Reception number slips are distributed from 5:00 pm the day before until 3:30 am on the morning of the day.
And on that day (December 1st).
Distribution of numbered tickets will begin at 3:30 in the morning, so head to the front of the main store by then.
When the time comes, a staff member will appear with a placard with a number written on it, so give your reception number slip there and exchange it for a "line numbering ticket".
Even if you didn't get a reception number the day before, you can get a line number ticket here, so make sure to get up early so you can line up as close to the front of the line as possible!
Then, at 4:30, a line will finally form under the guidance of the staff.
Here, you will first form a line in the order of your numbered ticket, and then people who do not have a numbered ticket will line up behind you.
The line crosses the bridge behind Akafukumochi main store, turns left and continues along the Isuzu River.
During the months when the popular mochi is on sale, the lines can be hundreds of meters long, and the wait can be several hours.
There will be a staff member with a placard at the end of the line, so if you arrive after this time, please line up here.
When I spoke to the people waiting in line, I found out that some people come from outside the prefecture every month, which shows how popular it is.
Sales finally started at 4:45.
Some people have their hands full with bags, and some even buy whole cardboard boxes! I'm overwhelmed by the enthusiasm. There is no limit to how many items each person can purchase.
After waiting in line for about 20 minutes, I finally got my hands on December's Tsuitachi-Mochi "Yukimochi (620 yen for 6 pieces, 1030 yen for 10 pieces, 1500 yen for a box of 9 pieces)"!
Yukimochi is a mochi confectionery made of mochi dough containing sorghum flour wrapped in elegantly sweet bean paste, and the surface is decorated to look like a light layer of snow.
The design of the gift box is different every month, so please enjoy the differences.
[Akafukumochi store]
Address: 26 Uji-Nakanokiri-cho IseCity
Phone number 0596-22-7000
Official URL http://www.akafuku.co.jp/
Business hours 5:00-17:00 (subject to change during busy seasons)
*From 4:45 on the 1st of every month (excluding January)
No holidays
Access: 15 minutes by bus from IseCity Station or Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station and get off at “Jingu Kaikan-mae”
★Sakubi porridge warms your mind and body
Now that I was able to buy Tsuitachi-Mochi that I had always wanted, let's have some warm morning porridge at Okage-yokocho to warm up my cold body.
Okage-yokocho is open early on the 1st of every month, and usually serves local dishes such as Tekone-Zushi Sushihisa, we serve a different kind of porridge each month called ``Sakubi Gayu'' early in the morning on the 1st. (from 4:45 p.m.).
December's porridge is ``Fuyusolstice Porridge'' (600 yen), which is made with pumpkin, which is based on the custom of ``Winter Solstice Pumpkin'', which is said to prevent you from catching a cold if eaten on the winter solstice.
The set includes a small bowl of piping hot rice porridge, a dashimaki egg, seasonal grilled fish (barracuda at the time of the interview), a small side dish (braised burdock at the time of the interview), and pickles.
Many people come here every month to enjoy this porridge, and the grilled fish and small side dishes change monthly, so you won't get bored.
The porridge with a strong dashi stock and the sweetness of the steamy pumpkin will soak up your cold body.
*On January 1st, we will have a special menu for New Year's Day only.
[Sushihisa]
Address: 20 Uji-Nakanokiricho IseCity
Phone number 0596-27-0229
Official URL http://www.okageyokocho.co.jp/
Business hours 10:30-19:30 (19:00LO) *4:45-on the 1st of every month
Closed: Open every day (However, there are no night hours on the 1st, last day, and Tuesday of every month)
Access: 15 minutes by bus from IseCity Station or Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station and get off at “Jingu Kaikan-mae”
★Sakubi morning market held at Okage Okage-yokocho
Once your stomach is full with warm porridge, let's take a short walk through Okage-yokocho.
On the 1st, the "Sakubi Morning Market" is held from around 4 o'clock, and you can find a variety of products such as fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits, processed foods made by local producers such as Ureshino tofu, smoked oysters, kinkgo potatoes, roasted chestnut stalls, etc. It is lined with shops and is very lively from early morning.
The vendors change every month, so you can get what's in season.
In addition, restaurants other than Sushiku have limited menus available only on Sakubi, such as udon, zosui, and soba, making Okage-yokocho a different experience than during normal business hours.
[Okage-yokocho]
Address: 52 Uji-Nakanokiricho IseCity
Phone number 0596-23-8838
Official URL http://www.okageyokocho.co.jp/
Business hours: November to February 9:30 to 17:00 (until 17:30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays in February)
March to July and October 9:30 to 17:30 (until 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from April to July),
August-September 9:30-18:00 (subject to change during busy seasons)
*The 1st day of each month varies depending on the store.
No holidays
Access: 15 minutes by bus from IseCity Station or Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station and get off at “Jingu Kaikan-mae”
★Visit IseJingu and watch the sunrise
Now that the sky is getting brighter, let's go to visit IseJingu Naiku.
In the crisp early morning air, we walk along the gravel and pray in peace.
At this time of year, the sunrise can be seen from UjibashiBridge, so I wait for the sun to rise with many worshipers.
Basking in the warm sunlight, I left Ise with a feeling that this month would be a safe and good month.
It's no wonder that many IseCity make this Sakubi pilgrimage a monthly habit, as it's fun, delicious, and refreshing.
Why not get up early on the first day of every month and visit Ise?
All 11 types are available! There is also a special feature on Tsuitachi-Mochi ♪
You can only eat it once a year! We featured Akafukumochi 's Tsuitachi-Mochi ♪
[Related interview report]
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