2022: Revisiting the Eighth♪ Every New Year, it was a tradition for us to buy a year's worth of this shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend) here, but a few years ago the flavor changed and we drifted away from it... During that time, we tried various shichimi blends in search of something satisfying, but to no avail (^_^;) The conclusion we reached together was, let's go back to Chinmi-Do to buy it~ (*^-^*)★ Two bags of shichimi♪ When sprinkled on udon noodles or pickles... it may not have the same taste as before, but among the many shichimi blends out there, it's the best one!(^^)! The aroma of seaweed is really nice, after all! We've returned to the basics~ (^^)♪

Located just across from the pickles alley on the approach to Ishikiri Shrine, this pepper is fragrant and delicious, without any unpleasant spiciness. I haven't measured it, but I think it contains about the same amount as a general refill pack. It used to be 100 yen, but the price has gradually increased to 150 yen now (which is understandable in this day and age). Still, considering the quality, this price is a bargain. They also have shichimi and powdered mustard available. Perfect for souvenirs!

2018・1 Revisited ♪ The shichimi here had run out, so I was using a substitute from another store, but the flavor was completely different, causing me stress (laughs). During the New Year's visit to Ishikiri Shrine, I bought 15 bottles, including those for my close friends! It seems like the store has changed hands (*^_^*) ◎ Shichimi ♪ The flavor of sesame and nori is irresistible! ◎ Ichimi ♪ The shocking spicy sensation! ◎ Pepper ♪ It's different from the ones you can buy in stores~ However, compared to the shichimi from previous years, I feel like the impact has slightly decreased this year~ (*^_^*)

I came to "Ishikiri Shrine" in Higashi-Osaka City. After praying, I took a leisurely stroll along the approach leading to the station. It was very enjoyable to walk and see the lively mix of old and new shops. Next, I bought the famous hirousu at "Kubo Hirousu Store" in front of the Ishikiri Daibutsu, and then I visited "Chinmidou Ui" shop. Whenever I come to Ishikiri, I always buy their pepper. The scent of the water wheel pepper here is completely different from the top-class pepper sold in supermarkets! It works really well. Buying it for 150 yen feels like a little happiness. I went home and immediately put it on my snack of "Demae Itcho" - the scent that comes out is really different. Wonderful! Thank you very much for the delicious meal!

In 2017, we revisited the place with my husband and were grateful for being able to visit Ishikiri-san and buy the special 7 spice blend. It's truly a special spice that can be used in various dishes. We are big fans of it and this time we bought 16 packs. In 2014, we visited on January 2nd and bought the 7 spice blend along with the new addition of "sansho" pepper. The aroma was amazing and it added a great flavor to our dishes. In 2013, we bought 13 packs of the 7 spice blend for our friends and family who also enjoy it. The taste and aroma of this spice blend is truly unique. In 2012, I remember seeing the elderly lady mixing the 7 spice blend with a mortar and pestle, creating a special aroma that cannot be found in other stores. It's perfect for hot pot, udon, and even pickles according to my friend.

After visiting Ishikiri Shrine for the New Year, Tsunukko and Chibitsunu had a meal at the shop "Ikuta-ya" where they had mugwort udon and mugwort dumplings. Next, they took a stroll through the Ishikiri shopping street where they noticed many fortune-telling shops. They were curious about "Ishikiri Daitengu" and found it a bit scary. They visited a shop called "Chinmi-dou Ui" where they could have their own blend of shichimi spice made. They also bought some black pepper. They watched as hand-made senbei rice crackers were being made at another shop, with shapes like gourds and kobans (old Japanese coins) and characters like Ishikiri and Senryo imprinted on them. They found the atmosphere in the area a bit eerie due to the many fortune-telling shops. They bought a plush toy of the popular Ishikirin character for their friend who couldn't come along. They also saw a pink Ishikirin this year. They visited the Ishikiri Daibutsu at Ishikiri Daibutsuji Temple, where they were unsure about what made it the third largest in Japan. They found an old-fashioned sweets shop with lots of treats. As the sun began to set, they concluded their stroll in Ishikiri and headed back towards Shin-Ishikiri Station, planning to make a quick stop along the way. ...To be continued.

During this year's Golden Week in May 2013, I ended up working almost the whole time instead of taking a break. After having lunch with a friend from Nara, we decided to buy some shichimi togarashi (seven spice blend) on our way back. We went down the famous Ishikiri Sando slope, where I remembered visiting as a child and seeing an old lady mixing the spices with a unique aroma filling the air. Now, a younger couple was running the shop. The smell was just as I remembered, a blend of spices including nori and sansho pepper, similar to curry spices. The shop owner advised us to store it in the fridge. On the way back, the car was filled with the scent of shichimi. Maybe I should also buy some instant noodles on the way home!

I have been going to Ishikiri for New Year's for the past three years. There are many interesting shops lined up, so I walk from Ishikiri to Shin-Ishikiri just to see them. This year, I moved from Shin-Ishikiri to Ishikiri for the first time. Every year, there are new discoveries, which is fun, but this year's discovery was this shop. Along the approach to Ishikiri Shrine, there were about three shops selling seasonings, but this shop is the closest to Ishikiri Station and the only one with a crowd in front. When you stand in front of the shop, a nice scent of shichimi (seven spice blend) wafts through the air. This scent is really pleasant. The colors of the seasonings, including shichimi, displayed in the shop are beautiful and enjoyable to look at. The staff at the shop are also kind and taught me how to properly store shichimi. ... So, I actually tried this shichimi and the scent was incredibly amazing. I don't usually do this kind of thing, but since I ran out of gochujang, I tried sprinkling this on my yakiniku sauce, and the flavor of the shichimi was noticeable. By the way, the shichimi I purchased this time is a 25g packet for 350 yen, while the ones sold at 100 yen shops are 15g, so the cost-performance ratio is not bad. The value of this product is more than enough.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Yasoshichimi Togarashi with Extra Sansho Pepper (medium bag)" which is mixed for each order. I asked for extra mountain pepper because I love it. Unlike regular shichimi togarashi, this one has a refreshing and elegant aroma of mountain pepper, followed by a spicy kick on the tongue. The taste and aroma are still top-notch. It had been a few months since my last visit, and I noticed that the price had gone up from 900 yen to 950 yen. Despite the slight increase, I am satisfied with the quality of this flavor. I did some research and found out that in 2020, there was a poor harvest of domestic mountain pepper. Due to the late end of the rainy season, heavy rain in July, and the intense summer heat, the harvest efficiency decreased. Despite this, the price increase was only 50 yen, which I actually appreciate. I want to savor and enjoy this flavor carefully.

When I visit the Shrine of IshikiriTsurugiya in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, I always make sure to stop by the shop "Chinmidou Ui" that sells shichimi togarashi. This time, I ordered it with "extra sansho pepper". Shichimi togarashi is a Japanese seasoning made from a blend of spices and herbs, with common ingredients being sansho pepper, hemp seeds, and black sesame seeds. Other variations may include poppy seeds, nori seaweed, ginger, dried tangerine peel, dried red chili pepper, perilla leaves, and white sesame seeds. It has become a popular condiment for dishes like udon and yakitori due to the Japanese food trend worldwide. While it is relatively easy to find commercially made shichimi togarashi from major Japanese manufacturers, the versions sold internationally may have different ingredients, particularly the absence of hemp seeds. In countries like the Netherlands and Canada where hemp seeds are more accepted, products containing hemp seeds are sold in specialized stores, unlike in Japan where they are not readily available in regular shops. Bringing domestically produced shichimi togarashi with hemp seeds into these countries could lead to legal consequences such as confiscation or prosecution. Therefore, companies like House Foods and S&B produce export-only versions of shichimi togarashi without hemp seeds. The blend of spicy red pepper and numbing sansho pepper in shichimi togarashi pairs well with Osaka-style udon noodles. It's not often that you come across shops like this, so being able to order original blends of shichimi togarashi is a delightful experience. Thank you for the meal.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Yuzusansho-ame Shichimi Togarashi (medium bag)" which is mixed to order. I like a lot of yuzu pepper, so I asked for extra. The aroma of yuzu spreads more vividly than regular shichimi togarashi, and it gives a tingling sensation on the tongue afterwards. This is delicious, I love it. The "Kona-karashi" is made by kneading with water, a traditional powdered mustard. The sharp and intense spiciness is good. This is delicious, I love it. The price of 150 yen per bag is also attractive. Don't forget to get my favorite Yuzusansho-ame Shichimi Togarashi and the essential winter item, Kona-karashi. On cold days, I enjoy it with oden, accompanied by Kona-karashi from Chinmi-do. While tube mustard is convenient and good, powdered mustard that is kneaded each time has a different aroma and taste, a unique flavor.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Yuzukosho with extra sansho pepper (medium bag)" which is mixed to order. I love lots of sansho pepper, so I requested that. I was a bit worried because the last time I bought it, the sansho pepper was a bit weak, but this time it was perfect. The tingling spiciness of the sansho pepper and its refreshing aroma were clearly felt, and it was really delicious. I had used up all my favorite Yuzukosho, so I went shopping for it. Yuzukosho is definitely best at Chinmi-do.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Sansho-ame Shichimi Togarashi (medium bag)" which is mixed to order. I asked for extra Sansho, as I love it. Today, compared to previous ones, there was a bit more sesame and the numbing sensation of Sansho was milder. I prefer a stronger Sansho flavor, but compared to commercially available regular shichimi togarashi, the scent of Sansho was more prominent and delightful. The "Kona Karashi" is a traditional mustard powder that is mixed with water before use. Its sharp and vivid spiciness is great. I love this. The "Kona Sansho" is a beautiful green powder made from domestically grown Sansho. Compared to regular store-bought Sansho powder, the aroma is significantly better. It has a refreshing scent and a sharp numbing spiciness. It numbs well but the sensation quickly fades, providing a good flavor kick. I love this. This is a spice specialty store located on the approach to Ishikiri Shrine. They adjust the spiciness of the shichimi togarashi based on your preferences, such as medium, spicy, or extra Sansho. The quality is good and yet it is quite affordable, which is why I really like it.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Sansho-heavy Shichimi Togarashi (medium size)" which is mixed for each order. I like a lot of Sansho, so I requested that. The scent of Sansho spreads more vibrantly than regular Shichimi Togarashi, and it gives a spicy kick to the tongue afterwards. It's delicious, I love it. This shop specializes in Japanese-style spices such as red pepper, pepper, and mustard. You can customize your Shichimi Togarashi to your liking, such as medium spiciness, extra spicy, or with a lot of Sansho. I used to buy small bags before, but I always use them up quickly because they're so delicious, so this time I bought a slightly larger medium size bag for the first time.

I went alone on a weekday morning. I ordered the "Sansho-rich Shichimi Togarashi (small bag)" which is a seven-spice blend that they mix for each order. You can customize it to your liking, such as medium spiciness, extra spicy, or with lots of sansho pepper. I chose to have lots of sansho pepper because I love it. The aroma of the sansho pepper spreads beautifully and there is a lingering spiciness on the tongue. This is delicious, I love it. The "Powdered Mustard" is a traditional powdered mustard that is mixed with water before use. The sharp and intense spiciness is very delicious. This is a spice specialty store located on the approach to Ishikiri Shrine. In addition to the seven-spice blend, they also have spices that go well with Japanese cuisine, such as water mill pepper.

On Sunday morning, I went with my best friend to a restaurant that offers a custom blend of seven-spice chili pepper called "Yasashio Tame Shichimi Togarashi" in small bags. You can customize the spice level to your liking, such as medium, spicy, or with extra sansho pepper. I personally love extra sansho pepper. The aroma of the sansho pepper is more prominent than traditional seven-spice chili pepper, and it leaves a spicy kick on the tongue afterwards. It's delicious, I love it. Another recommendation is the "Waterwheel Pepper," which has a fine texture, elegant aroma, and spiciness. This pepper goes well with Japanese cuisine. This spice shop is located on the approach to Ishikiri Shrine. If you let them know your preferences, they will create a blend that suits your taste perfectly. This is a recommended restaurant for those who enjoy spicy food.