Hashirii Mochi: Where to Eat, Prices & Hours (Shiga)

Hashirii mochi is a famous rice cake handed down at Otsu Oiwake, a post town on the Tokaido. Tradition holds it began around 1764, in the Meiwa era, when a teahouse at the foot of Osakayama offered travelers mochi made with the welling spring water Hashirii and Omi rice, wrapped around a smooth bean paste.

Highlights

Its plump form, said to resemble a clear water droplet, is distinctive, and it has soothed travelers crossing the highway since the Edo period. The melt in the mouth mochi made with pure water and the elegantly sweet smooth paste weave a simple taste still loved today. Osakayama was an ancient traffic gateway sung of in classical poetry, so the mochi can be savored alongside that history.

Enjoying the Seasons

Its freshly pounded softness is a year round charm, but tracing the old highway during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season makes it exceptional. Enjoyed with tea, it steeps you in the travel mood of the old Tokaido. It also suits a pause between views of Lake Biwa or visits to the shrines and temples of Otsu.

Access and Basic Information

It can be bought at the head shop in Otani, Otsu. Within walking distance of Otani Station on the Keihan Keishin Line, it is also easy to reach from the Kyoto side. Nearby lie spots that evoke the history of the old Tokaido, such as Seki Semimaru Shrine tied to the poet Semimaru and the ruins of the Osaka barrier.

Practical Travel Notes

• Soft mochi does not keep long, so it is best enjoyed on the day you buy it, as a guide.
• The area around Otani Station on the Keihan Keishin Line retains the air of the old highway over Osakayama.
• Otsu has many sights such as Miidera temple, Omi Jingu, and the Lake Biwa Canal, so a half day stroll pairs well with the mochi.
• It can sometimes be eaten in the shop, suiting a travel rest with tea.

A Quick Tip

Soft mochi does not keep long, so it is best enjoyed on the very day you buy it.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season: All year round. The shop officially traces its founding to 1764 (Meiwa 1), in the time of Tokugawa Ieharu, the tenth shogun.
• Where to buy it: Hashirii Mochi Honke Co., Ltd., main shop (3-3 Yokogi 1-chome, Otsu City, TEL 077-528-2121) / open 9:00-18:00, no closing days throughout the year. It is also sold at "Otsu Station Meitengai" on the 1st floor of JR Otsu Station (1-3 Kasuga-cho, Otsu City).
• Access: About a 10-minute walk from Oiwake Station on the Keihan Electric Railway Keishin Line.
• Price guide: Hashirii mochi (white), 594 yen for a box of 5, 1,188 yen for 10, and 1,782 yen for 15 (all prices include tax).
• Point to note: The distinctive shape represents the droplets gushing from the famous spring water of Harui.

* Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Hashirii Mochi Honke official website, "Tokaido's Great Specialty: Hashirii Mochi" and "Guide to Directly Managed Shops and Retailers"; Shiga Prefecture Tourist Information official tourism website (Biwako Visitors Bureau); Otsu Hyakucho Hyakufuku Monogatari (Otsu Products Promotion Support Project Executive Committee))

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourist information for Shiga Prefecture together with information published by the individual establishments. Prices, menus and seasons are subject to change, so please check the official information of each establishment for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From around one hundred yen or so per piece, with boxed sets also available
• Where to eat it: Hashirii mochi shops in Otsu (Oiwake and Otani) and souvenir shops around the prefecture
• Recommended time of day: Daytime. Good as a snack or a gift to take home
• Avoiding the crowds: Popular items can sell out, so go early
• Enjoy it together with: The site of the Osaka no Seki barrier, Semimaru Shrine, the old highway through Otani and Oiwake, and Mii-dera Temple