Our food-hopping trip through Mie and Ise with our beloved dog Chocolat began as we made our way down "Oharai-machi Street,"Okage YokochoBeyond the main entrance of ",Ise Grand ShrineHeading in that direction. Compared to early morning, the area has become more crowded with people coming and going before noon.
As soon as you enter the Oharaimachi Street from the torii gate of Ise Grand Shrine (Naiku), you'll find a dango shop with a line of customers waiting, emitting a delicious aroma.
From the popular "Kuromitsu Dango" (black sugar syrup dumplings) of Ise to the freshly made "Mitarashi Dango" (sweet soy sauce glazed dumplings) hand-grilled by artisans, these are a huge hit! Order at the counter and wait for them to be grilled.
To ensure you can enjoy the savory aroma as it's grilled, the skewers are hand-grilled in-store. The skilled chefs expertly hold four skewers between their fingers, lift all eight at once with both hands, and flip them over while checking the doneness—a testament to their masterful technique.
Mitarashi dango (rice dumplings with sweet soy sauce glaze) 150 yen each, Kinako dango (rice dumplings with roasted soybean flour) 150 yen each
There are benches outside the shop, so you can place your dog's pet stroller in the back so it doesn't get in the way, and sit down together to enjoy a relaxing time with some dango. The moment you get to enjoy the piping hot, freshly grilled dango is pure bliss. Of course, you can't give any to your dog, but it's adorable to see them getting restless, lured by the savory aroma. The dango are made using joshinko flour from domestically produced non-glutinous rice, which brings out the flavor of the rice, and the hot, fragrant dango coated in plenty of sweet and salty sauce is exceptionally delicious.
The irresistible harmony of savory aroma and sweet and salty flavors, along with the chewy, springy texture of the mitarashi dango, makes it a must-try item on any food-hopping list along Oharai-machi Street!
He kept peering at me longingly, but I couldn't possibly give him any of the dumplings. With his eyes sparkling and his signature pleading gaze, I brushed him off and ate them all myself (lol).
The mitarashi dango from "Dango-ya" is one of the classic sweets you should definitely try on Oharaimachi Street. Freshly grilled, with a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, it's an exceptional treat that ticks all the boxes. The bite-sized "Mitarashi Hanako," with its sweet and savory sauce inside the dango dough, is highly recommended as a souvenir!
Dango shop
Address: 12 Ujinakanokiri-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture 516-0025
TEL: 0596-23-8732
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last order 4:30 PM)
*Opening hours vary depending on the season.
Closed: Open every day
Payment method: Cash only
