*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

Asakusa 浅草

My friends and I had gone to Asakusa (浅草) to visit Sensoji, a popular Buddhist temple built in the 7th century in Tokyo.

While the temple was beautiful, what caught my interest was the shopping street around the temple.

I was walking around the rows of shops when I came across this stall selling mochi. They were also getting the crowd involved in the process of making mochi.

Mochi is a sticky rice cake that's an important food in Japanese culture. The Japanese people decorate their houses with a special type of mochi called kagamimochi and eat zoni (rice cake soup) during the Japanese New Year which falls on 1 Jan.

More information about mochi from About.com:
"Steamed mochi rice (glutinous rice) is pounded to make mochi. Traditionally, wooden mortars and pestles are used to pound mochi rice. Fresh mochi is soft, but it becomes hard soon. Prepacked mochi, which are flattened and cut into pieces or shaped into rounds are available at grocery stores. Mochi turns moldy easily, so it's best to cook soon."

The children were having a go at pounding the mochi and the adults standing around were cheering them on. They were clearing enjoying themselves and it certainly looked like good fun!

The freshly made mochi was then sold to the long queue of people who were all waiting to get their hands on this traditional snack.

There were also other interesting stalls. This one was selling freshly made Japanese rice crackers.

A stall specialising in beans.

Japanese footwear

Canine fashion

A curious boy watching how Japanese pancakes are made

Asakusa is served by the Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Railways.

Posted by DSD at February 6, 2008 12:49 AM