Even among Kyoto’s many historic shops, Ichimonjiya Wasuke, which has been in operation for more than a thousand years, stands out. Reportedly, the original founder started his business by serving roasted rice cakes, known as aburi-mochi, to those who visited the nearby Imamiya Shrine. In that time of famine and plague, it was believed that offering bamboo skewers to the gods there would offer protection from diseases. At Ichiwa, as the confectionery is affectionately known, aburi-mochi is the only offering on the menu. Almost unchanged from the bygone past, the rice…
