This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
Do you know about street vendors at train stations?
As the name suggests, stand-up sales are a style of sales where vendors with a bin hanging from their neck sell bento boxes and other items on train platforms. You may have seen this in old movies
There is still a place where this stall is still being sold. It is Toge Station on the Ou Main Line in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The Toge no Chikara Mochi sold there is a hidden specialty of Yonezawa City and is one of the joys of train travel
In this article, we will introduce you to Toge no Chikara Mochi
Daily life at Toge Station
From Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture on the Ou Main Line, you can head towards Yamagata. The train continues on through the endless lush green mountains, and the fourth station you come across is Toge Station. Located in the snowy mountains, it is a quiet station surrounded by a snow-covered roof. Suddenly, the spirited voice of a vendor can be heard on the dimly lit platform of Toge Station. The banju (rice cakes) hanging from the train's neck clearly bear the words "Toge no Chikara Mochi (Power of the Toge)."
As the train approaches the station, passengers who boarded the train hoping to get some Toge no Chikara Mochi begin to get restless. When the train arrives at the station, people stream towards the windows and doors, and during the brief stop the quiet station becomes bustling for a moment. Passengers returning to their seats clutch square boxes with Toge no Chikara Mochi's traditional wrapping paper in them
Since the opening of the Ou Main Line in 1901, Toge Station has been selling "Toge no Chikara Mochi" on the street. This style of selling involves selling goods through the windows and doors to passengers on stopped trains. The train stops for about 30 seconds, during which time the goods are handed over to the customer. This scene, reminiscent of something out of a retro movie, continues to this day
What is Toge no Chikara Mochi?
Toge no Chikara Mochi is a daifuku mochi made by a teahouse on the mountain pass. The smooth, pure white mochi is filled with plenty of smooth bean paste. A box contains 8 pieces and costs 1,000 yen. You can enjoy the simple, traditional taste
The street vendors are rare these days, and the deliciousness of Toge no Chikara Mochi is unforgettable, making it a popular specialty of the Ou Main Line, both now and in the past. Some people even take the train just to buy Toge no Chikara Mochi from the street vendors
During the 30-second stop, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment if you manage to buy a Toge no Chikara Mochi safely. Why not give it a try, while being mindful of safety to avoid any accidents?
The origins of Toge no Chikaramochi
The origin of Toge no Chikara Mochi seems to be when the first owner of the shop offered the teahouse's prized daifuku mochi to laborers working on the railway construction before the opening of the Ou Main Line. This created a connection with Toge Station, and the sale of mochi began
The name Toge no Chikara Mochi (Powerful Mochi of the Toge) was chosen because it was one of the most difficult sections of the railway and the first store owner was small but strong
Times have changed, people have changed, and trains have been replaced by electric trains. But Toge no Chikara Mochi continues. The current owner is the fifth generation, and he has inherited the same flavor and street selling style from the previous generations, bringing a smile to the faces of travelers who visit
How to buy Toge no Chikara Mochi
Toge no Chikara Mochi can also be purchased at Toge no Chaya. Frozen products are also available for delivery to other regions. Toge no Chaya also serves food and drinks, but in the winter they only sell Chikara Mochi
By the way, Toge no Chikara Mochi, which has a store in front of Yonezawa Station and is also sold on the Yamagata Shinkansen, is a branch of a store that was established before the previous owner, so it appears to be a different product
summary
We introduced Toge no Chikara Mochi, a street vendor selling mochi that continues to this day at Toge Station in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
It is rare across the country for a station stand to continue selling food on its own. Times have changed, and the number of convenient and easy-to-use items continues to increase. However, perhaps the reason they continue selling food on their own is because of the smiles on the faces of passengers who buy Toge no Chikara Mochi in their hands
Nostalgic, unusual and fresh. A trip by train through Tohoku will allow you to encounter the street vendors at Toge Station. Why not give it a try?
Touge no Chaya (Tea House) ＜Information＞
Name: Touge no Chaya
Address: 848 Osawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-1303
Woman in her 30s / Resident of Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture / Writer who handles local gourmet information / Favorite phrase is coexistence and co-prosperity
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