Cat-Shaped Rice Cake Skewers - Bite-Sized Traditional GOHEI-MOCHI stick from Nagano Prefecture

Cat-Shaped Rice Cake Skewers

Bite-Sized Traditional GOHEI-MOCHI stick from Nagano Prefecture

What is Gohei Mochi?

It is a beloved regional dish in the mountainous areas of Nagano, Gifu and Aichi prefectures in Japan.
It involves skewering partially pounded (han-tsuki) glutinous rice onto sticks and grilling them with a base of miso or soy sauce-based sauce.
The specific shape and variations can differ depending on the location.
Aspects like the base sauce, the consistency of the rice pounding, and the inclusion of walnuts or not create various unique characteristics in different regions.
The origin of Gohei Mochi has several theories.
One theory suggests that its form resembled the sacred "mikoshi" used in Shinto rituals, and it was offered as an imitation.
Another suggests that a person named "Gohei" or "Gobei" used to eat mashed rice dipped in miso and introduced the dish when an elderly traveler from Mino Province crossed the mountain pass to Iida around 400 years ago.
There are various other speculations about its origin.
Though it's true inception remains unclear, it is believed to have been present since the mid-Edo period.
It has been cherished over generations, and its variations reflect the local traditions and flavors of the Nagano, Gifu and Aichi regions.

2. Using a special order oven to bake

The surface becomes crispy while the inside remains soft and fluffy.
They bake the rice from both top and bottom in the oven to retain moisture within the rice.

3. Miso specialties

How to enjoy

WIth the microwave, partially open the bag and heat it in the microwave.
At 700W, heat one about for 40 seconds, and two for 1 minute and 20 seconds.

Nagano Prefecture Collaboration

The prefecture boasts the fourth largest land in Japan, and its vast forests nurture clean water and air.

Taking advantage of its bleeding topography, agriculture thrives in the prefecture, with fruit cultivation in particular being highly marketable and producing a large amount and ranking first in the prefecture in terms of output.

- Prefecture with the full of attraction -

What attractive about Nagano prefecture is the variety of ways you can enjoy your trip, from visiting famous historical sites such as Zenkoji Temple and Matsumoto Castle, to relaxing in a hot spring with a great atmosphere, to enjoying the great outdoors, including the Northern Alps.

- Transportation from Tokyo to Nagano prefecture -
The fastest way to get from Tokyo to Nagano is by Shinkansen. It takes only 1 hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station.
The cheapest way to get to Nagano from Tokyo is by highway bus.

All Products from Nagano Prefecture