Located at 1-10 Miyajishimomachi, Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Shimaya is a long-established store that has been in business for 80 years on the approach to Miyajidake Shrine. They are known for their specialty "Matagae Mochi," which has been loved for a long time as a local specialty of the shrine that has been established for over 1700 years. They use only the best Erimo adzuki beans from Hokkaido called "Miyabi," and their homemade sweet bean paste is made by cooking the beans. They wrap it in a mixture of high-quality mochi rice from Kyushu and uruchi rice and bake it on-site for sale. They also offer seating for dining in, serving light meals and beverages. They are open from 9:30 to 17:00 with no regular holidays (irregular holidays). For more information, you can visit their website at http://shimaya-fukutsu.com/ Miyajidake Shrine is the head shrine of all the Miyajidake Shrines across the country. It boasts three largest items in Japan (large shimenawa, large drum, large bell) within its premises, and recently, a couple of owls have been dedicated to the shrine. Some of the shrine's seals feature a depiction of a couple of owls, known as "Meoto Fukurou." The shrine is dedicated to Empress Jingu, who lived 1000 years before Doiwa no Kami. After visiting the shrine, you can enjoy the local specialty, "Matagae Mochi," which is sold in the approach to the shrine and the local town. It may be confused with the famous "Umegaemochi" from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, but they are different. The history of Matagae Mochi is said to be older than Umegaemochi. It is a must-try when visiting Miyajidake Shrine.

Shimaya is a dining hall located in the area near the chief priest at Miyajitake Shrine, a grand shrine of the entire country. They serve a famous dish called "Matsumoto Mochi" along with udon and soba noodles. After visiting the shrine and paying respects, I decided to try the Matsumoto Mochi. The shop was busy, but I chose this one. As soon as I entered, I was seated and served tea while waiting for the freshly baked mochi. The mochi had a light green color and was crispy on the outside, with a soft and gooey texture inside. It had a subtle mugwort fragrance, and the sweet bean paste was also soft. I quickly finished three pieces. They also had plain mochi available for takeout, but I preferred the mugwort flavor. I bought five pieces to take home. Overall, it was a satisfying visit to the shrine and a delicious treat.

Shiro mochi 130 yen, Yomogi mochi 130 yen. Everyone knows about Ume no Hana mochi, but did you know there is something called Matsugae mochi? I didn't know until today. I even thought there might be Takegae mochi, but when I looked it up, it didn't exist. Today, I visited Miyajidake Shrine to pray for business prosperity. My business has been a bit slow lately. I visited Munakata Taisha at the end of last year, so I felt like there might be some blessings near the shrine, so I went to this shrine. It's a typical case of relying on the gods when in trouble. When I stopped by the shop, the lady was just baking and asked, "Do you want to eat it right away?" I said, "I'll take it home," and she wrapped it in plastic wrap and put it in a paper bag. When I got home and opened it, the "shiro & yomogi" were stuck together from the heat when she wrapped it. It was a bit difficult to separate them. I warmed it up in the microwave and tried it, but I couldn't tell the difference between Matsugae mochi and Ume no Hana mochi. Actually, it's been a long time since I last ate Ume no Hana mochi, so I don't remember it well.

I am Rie Igaki, the representative of the women's training company Cheriroze Co., Ltd., a human resources educator, and a manners instructor. I recently visited Fukuoka for a business study group organized by Kazuo Inamori (Honorary Chairman of Kyocera, Honorary Chairman of Japan Airlines), called "Seiwa Juku". While there, a friend who lives in Hakata took me to the famous Miyajidake Shrine, known for the Japan Airlines commercial "Path of Light". After paying our respects, we stopped by a shop on the approach called "Matsugaemochi". This treat is similar to the "Umegamemochi" from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, but it is called "Matsugaemochi" because of the abundance of pine trees around Miyajidake Shrine. The shop is run by a cheerful mother-daughter duo. The mochi is made with 100% azuki beans from Tokachi, using sticky rice. It features a pine tree stamp similar to the shrine's emblem. They offer two varieties: the standard "white mochi" and the rare "yomogi mochi". I personally prefer the yomogi mochi, as its sweetness pairs perfectly with the crispy grilled skin. Despite the crispy exterior, the mochi inside stretches when eaten due to the sticky rice. It's a perfect balance of textures and flavors. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

After visiting Miidagatake Shrine as part of the Sanja-mairi pilgrimage, we stopped by a shop to buy the famous Matsugae-mochi on our way back. Matsugae-mochi, a specialty of this area, has a long history, similar to the Ume-gae-mochi at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. The shops here vary greatly in size, sweetness, and other aspects. At Shimaya, the shop we visited, the mochi was small and had less filling and beans compared to others.

After a long time, I went to Miyajidake Shrine in the morning. It was raining on and off, but thanks to that, the air was clear and the scenery was beautiful! I was a little hungry from being out in the morning, so I searched on Google for a shop on the approach where I could buy Matsugae Mochi. It said they use homemade sweet bean paste, so I chose that one! There was a bit of a line, but I decided to wait. I bought two with yomogi (mugwort). They were freshly baked, with a crispy outside and delicious sweet bean paste inside. I only planned to eat one, but ended up finishing both.

I bought one Shiratama and one Imo-An Matsugae Mochi for ¥150 each, as there was a limited-time sweet potato filling available. Later, I found out that Yomogi (mugwort) is famous for this shop, which made me a bit disappointed. The mochi was thicker than I imagined and had a nice chewy texture. It was slightly warm and delicious with a subtle sweetness, perfect for a snack. The staff was friendly and made me feel warm and cozy.

When I went to Fukuoka, on my way back to Oita, I visited a shop at Miyajidake Shrine. I had never heard of it before, but this shop called "Shimaya" had a long line. I always associated Umeboshi (plum rice cake) with Dazaifu in Fukuoka. They serve freshly baked Umeboshi there. The ones they serve are completely different from the ones sold at the Oita branch. It was incredibly delicious! It was fluffy and not only did they have red bean paste, but also various other flavors. I chose the sweet potato flavor! Here is what it looks like (sorry for the bite marks). I definitely want to visit this shop again!

There is a shop on the approach to Miyajidake Shrine that sells the famous "Matsugae Mochi". There are two types available, white and yomogi, priced at 130 yen each. When I visited the shrine at the end of the year, there was a line in front of the shop. However, since everyone was just buying mochi, the wait time was not too long. It was actually enjoyable to watch the staff efficiently make and bake the mochi. There is also an eat-in area at the back of the shop. The ingredients for the homemade red bean paste mochi include Hokkaido Tokachi "Gaya" red beans, salt from Oshima in Munakata City, and rice flour from Fukushimaen in Munakata City. The mochi is not overly sweet, with a good balance of sweetness and a hint of salt. Its simplicity allows the high quality to shine through. Although I took it to go this time, receiving it freshly baked and taking a bite on the spot seems like the most delicious option. I'll try that next time. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Today, I visited Miyajidake Shrine in Fukutsu City. This shrine is famous for having the largest shimenawa (sacred rope) in Japan, and it was also featured in a JAL commercial with the group Arashi. It is known for the mystical sight that occurs twice a year when the setting sun aligns with the approach to the shrine. One of the specialties here is the famous local sweet called "Matagae Mochi". While "Ume-gae Mochi" from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is well-known, Matagae Mochi is also a hidden gem. Today, I had the opportunity to try both the Yomogi (mugwort) and white varieties at a shop called "Shimaya". The homemade sweet bean paste was subtly sweet and the mochi had a delightful chewy texture. I could easily eat many of these. After the visit to the shrine, my heart felt purified and my stomach and heart were satisfied by the Matagae Mochi. Thank you for the wonderful treat.

During this business trip, I wanted to do some food tasting after visiting the Miyajidake Shrine. As I walked along the approach, I noticed that every store was selling a type of mochi called Matsugae Mochi, which is said to contain mugwort. I'm not a big fan of mugwort, but then I found a purple sweet potato version! I decided to try it right away. It was delicious! The mochi was chewy and the sweet potato flavor was just right. I was very satisfied. Thank you for the meal. By the way, this shrine has become a sacred place for fans of Arashi. I'm not one, but it was a lovely place. I wish I could have seen the Path of Light...

At the entrance of the famous Miyajidake Shrine known for its giant shimenawa, there is a shop called Shimaya. I have used their dining services during a New Year's visit, but this time, on my way back from visiting Miyajidake Shrine to see the "Path of Light," I bought the Miyajidake specialty called Matsugaeshi mochi. The "Path of Light" refers to an event in February and October where the path leading from Miyajidake Shrine towards the sea is illuminated at sunset. The stairs on the path are so popular that tickets are distributed as seating for spectators. Matsugaeshi mochi is similar to Ume gaeshi mochi sold on the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. I couldn't tell much difference in taste or ingredients, but the Matsugaeshi mochi from Shimaya had a three-pine symbol stamped on the surface. They offer two types: plain white and mugwort-flavored, both priced at 120 yen each. I enjoyed the freshly baked mochi, with a slight crunch and a hint of mugwort flavor. I prefer the version with a bit less sweet red bean paste, but overall, it was delicious. There were many Matsugaeshi mochi shops along the approach, so I would like to try others if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

The wave of inflation is also hitting here... Surprised by the prices!

The mugwort and plain flavors are not too sweet and delicious! I love the nice scent of mugwort ♡

Matsugaya Mochi is more lively compared to Mochinara Mochi, and Miyajidake seems to be more bustling than Munakata Taisha.