[Yamagata Prefecture] Standing sales at stations that continue today | What is Yonezawa City's hidden specialty "Toge no Chikara Mochi"?

Do you know about stand-up sales at stations?

As the name suggests, standing sales is a style in which bento boxes and other items are sold on station platforms by vendors wearing banju (banju) around their necks. I'm sure some of you have seen it in old movies.

There are some places where this station's standing sales still continue. This is Touge Station on the Ou Main Line, located in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The Touge Chikaramochi that is sold there is a hidden specialty of Yonezawa City and has become one of the pleasures of train travel.

In this article, we will introduce Chikaramochi from Toge.

Daily life at Touge Station

You can head towards Yamagata from Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture and the Ou Main Line. As the train continues to move forward through the endless greenery of the mountains, Touge Station is the fourth station in sight. Because it is located in the mountains with deep snow, it is a quiet station surrounded by a roof to protect from snow. Suddenly, on the dimly lit platform of Toge Station, the voice of a dashing salesperson can be heard. On the bun around his neck, the words ``Touge no Chikaramochi'' are clearly written.

As the train approaches the station, passengers who have boarded the train hoping to grab Chikara-mochi at the pass begin to stir. When the train arrives at the station, people stream from the train window to the door, and during the short time the train stops, the quiet station suddenly becomes bustling with activity. As the passengers return to their seats, they clutch a square box with an old-fashioned paper hanging from Toge no Chikaramochi.

Since the opening of the Ou Main Line in 1901, Toge Station has continued to sell ``Toge no Chikaramochi''. Standing sales is a style of selling products to passengers on stopped trains through the windows or doors. The stopping time is approximately 30 seconds. During this time, we will be handing over the products to the customers. The scene, which looks like something out of a retro movie, continues to this day.

What is Toge no Chikaramochi?

Toge no Chikaramochi is a daifuku mochi made by Toge no Chaya. The smooth, pure white rice cake is filled with plenty of strained red bean paste. One box contains 8 pieces for 1000 yen. You can enjoy the simple, old-fashioned taste.

Nowadays, you can't forget the rare stand-up sales and the deliciousness of Chikaramochi from the mountain pass, and it has remained popular as a specialty of the Ou Main Line. Some people even take the train to buy Touge Chikaramochi from the standing vendors.

You will feel a great sense of accomplishment if you can safely buy Chikaramochi from the mountain pass for 30 seconds. Why not take on the challenge while being careful to avoid accidents?

The beginning of Touge no Chikaramochi

The origin of Toge no Chikaramochi seems to have been when the first owner of the shop served the teahouse's famous Daifukumochi to the laborers who were working on the railway before the opening of the Ou Main Line. Mochi sales started with a connection with Touge Station.

The name Toge no Chikaramochi was given because it was one of the most difficult places on the railway and the first owner was small but strong.

Times have passed, people have changed, and trains have changed to trains. Still, Toge's strength continues. The current owner is the 5th generation. Inheriting the taste and standing sales style from generation to generation, we bring smiles to the faces of visitors.

How to purchase Toge no Chikaramochi

Toge no Chikaramochi can also be purchased at Toge no Chaya store. There are also frozen products that can be shipped locally. The tea house on the pass also serves food and drinks, but in the winter, it only sells Chikaramochi.

By the way, ``Touge no Chikaramochi'', which has a store in front of Yonezawa Station and is also sold on the Yamagata Shinkansen, seems to be a different product because it was opened before the time of the previous owner.

summary

We introduced Toge no Chikaramochi, a standing sale that continues to this day at Toge Station in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.

This is a rare case in Japan where station sales continue. Times are changing, and in today's world, the number of convenient and easy things continues to increase. Even so, the reason why we insist on standing sales may lie in the smiles on the faces of passengers who hold Toge Chikaramochi in their hands.

Nostalgic, rare and fresh. A train trip through Tohoku where you can see the stand-up sales at Touge Station. Why don't you come and visit us?

Chaya on the mountain pass＜Information＞

  • Name: Chaya on the mountain pass
  • Address: 848 Osawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture 992-1303
  • Phone number: 0238-34-2301
  • Official URL: http://www.togenochaya.com/

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