Taikoshusse-Mochi is a famous Ise confectionery loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi! These elegantly sweet rice cakes are still hand-baked today, and you can enjoy them after visiting Naiku ♪

A flat baked mochi with plenty of sweet bean paste inside the soft rice cake, and a gentle brown mark on the finish.
This is "Taikoshusse-Mochi", one of Ise's specialties!

When you hear the word "Taiko," you think of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and that's exactly right!
Taikoshusse-Mochi.


Approximately 450 years ago, when Hideyoshi was still a child, he loved the fried rice cakes he ate at a tea shop he stopped at while visiting IseJingu.
After that, Hideyoshi visited Ise frequently before the unification of the country, and he was actually a person with deep connections to Ise, making a major contribution to the revival of ShikinenSengu of IseJingu Grand Shrine, which had been temporarily discontinued.


This mochi, which Hideyoshi liked to eat, eventually came to be called ``Taiko-mochi, Shusse-mochi'' by the people of Ise, and is now known as Taikoshusse-Mochi.

A shop where you can taste the rice cake that Toyotomi Hideyoshi also ate...! ?
I visited the main branch of Taiko Mochi. A one-minute walk from UjibashiBridge, Naiku of IseJingu Grand Shrine, and right next to Naiku mae bus stop, this shop with its red roof is located in what could be called a prime spot for sightseeing in Ise.

As soon as you entered the store, there were rows of Taikoshusse-Mochi lined up at the counter!

This is Taikoshusse-Mochi for souvenirs. The expiration date is approximately one week.
The wrapping paper depicts a Taikomochi shop and the scenery of Ise from long ago, when it was crowded with worshipers, and you can feel the history of Taikomochi even from the package!


12 pieces 1,080 yen
20 pieces 1,800 yen
26 pieces 2,300 yen
*All tax included

Each Taikoshusse-Mochi is individually wrapped in a bag with the words "Taikoshusse-Mochi" written on it.
It's also nice that it's easy to give away as a souvenir.
Apparently, the most common way to eat it is to hold the whole bag in your hands and eat it little by little, which keeps your hands clean!

There are also 3-piece packages (300 yen, tax included) and 8-piece packages (720 yen, tax included) that are perfect for personal use♪

In addition to buying it as a souvenir, you can also enjoy Taikoshusse-Mochi slowly inside the store.
Since the shop is located close to Naiku, it's a perfect place to take a break after visiting the shrine!
The spacious store is lined with benches, and is full of the traditional atmosphere typical of Ise-san.

There was a tasteful old signboard hanging on the wall of the store.
Taikomochi was founded in 1565 during the Sengoku period. It has been loved for many years as a resting place for visitors Naiku.
The current building is said to be from 1963.

When you look around the store, you can see "gourds" all over the store.
This name comes from the fact that Toyotomi Hideyoshi's horse seal during the war was a gourd!

There were gourd figurines on display, hanging from the bench, and if you looked closely, you could see that the stove was also shaped like a gourd!
The depth of the relationship between Taikoshusse-Mochi and Toyotomi Hideyoshi is conveyed.

What you can enjoy inside the store is a set of two Taikoshusse-Mochi and Hojicha tea (220 yen, tax included).
Let's have it right away!
Mochi is round and flat, about 5cm in diameter. With the elegant sweetness of the soft mochi and crushed bean paste, you'll be able to eat as many as you want!
It goes perfectly with warm roasted green tea and will soothe your stomach and soul.
It's understandable that there are many repeat customers who visit over and over again.

Taikoshusse-Mochi is made by craftsmen every day in the workshop at the back of the store.
Steamed sticky rice is mixed with adzuki beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, which have been cooked with a unique seasoning, and then hand-grilled, turning each piece with a spatula, the traditional method!
For this reason, mass production is not possible, but it takes a lot of time and effort, and that is why the shapes and colors of the grilled marks are different one by one.
You'll want to eat carefully made rice cakes!

Then, the person at the shop
``You can eat it in a toaster, but it's best if you roast it in a frying pan over low heat!'' the shop staff told us about the recommended way to eat it!
When you try it, the rice cake will puff up a little more than the one you just ate, and it will become more fragrant and even more delicious! This is a new discovery♪

When asked about the secret behind the deliciousness of Taikoshusse-Mochi,
"Of course, the grilled marks are a distinctive feature of the product's appearance, but what we put the most effort into is the red bean paste. Since we can't manipulate the flavor of the tsubuan, we are very particular about seasoning ourselves." .
Indeed, the texture and sweetness are exquisite!


By the way, they also sell zenzai (red bean paste) only during the winter season until January.
I will definitely eat there next time I come!

There is also a gallery on display inside the store, where you can enjoy exhibits by local photographers from Ise while taking a break with delicious mochi.
The content changes every two months, so be sure to check it out!


Taikoshusse-Mochi is said to be a lucky mochi associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's "promotion" and is also enjoyed at celebratory occasions!
If you eat such auspicious Taikoshusse-Mochi, you might get even more power from Ise-san! ?
Please be sure to stop by to take a breather after visiting Naiku.