The Honji district (Honedera-mura) of Ichinoseki City preserves a rural landscape from 900 years ago.
Home to the Honedera-mura Manor Ruins, said to be Japan’s original rural landscape, this area cherishes a traditional way of life in harmony with nature!
This time, we’ll introduce an experience event held here in the Honji district, along with sightseeing spots.
Click here for more about the Honedera-mura Manor Ruins.
Enjoy Snow Play and Traditional Games Amid Japan’s Original Rural Landscape!
This time we attended this event.
An event where local elementary school children enjoy a mochi-pounding experience and snow play while feeling nature!
The children were full of energy!
This year there’s been very little snow, and the town of Ichinoseki has almost none.
The Honji district also has less snow than usual, but as you can see, it’s still blanketed in a snowy landscape!
First, they learned about Honedera-mura, then moved on to the main event.
The experience event was held at this old traditional house.
This is “Komagatayake” (the old Komagata family house).
Built in the 1940s–50s, this traditional house has an earthen floor, a wooden-floored room, and an irori hearth — the appearance of an old-fashioned farmhouse.
“Komagatayake” is normally freely available for anyone to use as a rest space.
Feeling the traditional Japanese way of life here makes for a perfect break during sightseeing or a drive.
The children enjoyed old-fashioned and New Year’s games in the old house, such as kamishibai picture-story shows, fukuwarai (a blindfolded face-arranging game), and puzzles.
As they played, a delicious smell of steaming rice began to fill the air.
Preparations for the mochi-pounding seemed to be ready.
Using a mortar and mallet, everyone took turns pounding the mochi together, combining their strength.
With calls of “yoisho, yoisho,” they pounded away energetically.
Once the mochi was ready, the children learned how to cut it from one of the local Honji mothers.
That day they made red bean paste, kinako (roasted soybean flour), natto, and ozoni (New Year’s mochi soup) versions.
Mochi that everyone pounds together tastes even better when everyone eats it together.
Mochi is both an offering to the gods and a symbol of good fortune.
In Ichinoseki–Hiraizumi, a “mochi food culture” has taken root from ancient times to the present, and it’s a food deeply cherished throughout the region.
This “mochi food culture” is recognized as part of “Washoku” (traditional Japanese cuisine), registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Once their stomachs were full of delicious mochi, it was time for snow play!
Snowball fights, building snowmen, territory games — the children were taught fun ways to play in the snow, making memories of their winter break.
Sightseeing Spots to Enjoy Ichinoseki’s Rural Landscape and a Tohoku Winter!
The rest facility we introduced this time, the Honedera-mura Manor rest stop “Komagatayake,” is about a 20-minute drive from BELLINO HOTEL ICHINOSEKI.
Hours available: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (November 21 – December 28: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Closed for winter from December 29 to the end of February.
About 1 km before this location is the Honedera-mura Manor Exchange Hall.
Click here for more about the Honedera-mura Manor Ruins.
Why not experience history and culture while feeling the presence of nature?
