In front of the Geku Shrine in Miyajidake, there are many shops selling Matsugae mochi. One of them is Osaka-ya, located in front of the bus stop, with a historic and elegant appearance. Although it may not look like a shop at first glance, I noticed a sign and went inside. It seems that they also run a ryokan. They offer two types of mochi, white and mugwort, and I chose the white one. Later, I regretted not choosing the mugwort flavor, which seems to be popular. Each shop has its own unique characteristics. The mochi here was large and very filling, with a soft and chewy skin and plenty of sweet red bean paste. They even offered me a seat and served tea. The owner mentioned that the Path of Light is rarely seen, but when witnessed, it leaves a lasting impression of great excitement. I would love to see it for myself someday.

Today, the Matsugae Mochi from Osaka-ya was surprisingly in a regular size, unlike the usual huge size that is incomparable to other stores but with the same price. I wonder if it was because there were a lot of visitors due to the influence of the Light Road today, or if it was due to a generational change that it became a regular size. Maybe the previous size was too big and they were actually losing money. It's disappointing, but I can understand.