Imamiya Shrine and Aburi Mochi, A Kyoto Favorite
While many people visit Daitoku-ji, one of the biggest temples in Kyoto, not so many people know there is a quaint little shrine in north of it, Imamiya Shrine. Coupled with the very locally famous aburi mochi, Imamiya Shrine is definitely a shrine you should drop by if you have a chance.
Imamiya Shrine
The origins of Imamiya Shrine dates back to the Heian Period when the shrine was built to ward off plague from Kyoto.
Imamiya Shrine is not so big. Upon entering you will see the honden which enshrines Onamuchi (aka Okunushi) and his son, Kotoshironushi, and his wife Kushinada.
A particularly interesting thing about this shrine is that it is popular for women.
Born near the shrine to a vegetable shop Keisho-in became concubine of 3rd Shogun of Edo government. Eventually she also gave birth to the 5th shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. She never forgot her home, however, and donated a large fortune to revive the shrine. So, many women who wish to be successful like Keisho-in visits this shrine to pray for their future.
Hataori Shrine enshrines Takuhatachiji-hime no mikoto [栲幡千千姫命], the goddess of textiles. This shrine quite popular for those who engaged in the textile industry in Nishijin in Kyoto, where Nishijinori is originated!
Points of Interest
Aburi mochi
While you are at Imamiya Shrine, you must try the aburi mochi. The treat also dates back to the Heian Period. According to local legend, when Emperor Ichijo became sick someone gifted him this mochi and it helped to restore his health.
Just outside of the former east you will see two stores that sell aburi mochi: Kazariya on right and Ichiwa on left. Kazariya is 400 years old and Ichiwa is about a thousand years.
Aburi mochi is basically grilled mochi covered in a sweet white miso paste. This sauce is particularly nice with mochi. The each piece of mochi is quite small but don’t worry, they give you 15 sticks for 300 yen!
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