The Healing Power of Tea

The Healing Power of Tea and "Aburi-mochi"
The shrine’s history is inextricably linked to Japan’s tea culture.

Since the Heian period (over 1,000 years ago), the shrine has been a site for Ekibi-yoke (warding off plagues).

• Ancient Superstition: In old Kyoto, epidemics were thought to spread when cherry blossoms fell. To combat this, the shrine hosted festivals where medicinal tea and charcoal-grilled rice cakes, known as Aburi-mochi, were served to the public.

• The Ritual: Even today, you can find two of Japan’s oldest shops facing each other at the East Gate. They serve these small mochi skewers glazed in sweet white miso, traditionally paired with bitter Japanese green tea. This combination—the sweetness of the miso and the umami of the tea—was believed to purify the body and grant longevity.