It is another season for Sakuramochi and Uguisumochi
that are seasonal and popular Japanese confection.
I bought Sakuramochi, Uguisumochi and Mame-daifuku at "Minato-mochi", my favorite Mochi shop today.
The actual season for Sakura or cherry blossoms and Uguisu or Japanese bush warbler begins early May here in Hokkaido. I guess the reason Sakura-mochi and Unguis-mochi are made in this season is out of the feeling of the people who can hardly wait for warm and flowering spring after getting through a long and cold winter.
Sakura-mochi is wrapped with cherry leaf. Uguisu-mochi is coated with soybean flour called "Kinako".
Mochi on the left is Mame Daifku. Black beans are mixed in the mochi.
Mochi is traditionally wrapped with a sheet of planed wood called "Kyogi".
The center of Mame Daifuku
As far as I know, there are about 8 mochi shops in Otaru, and Minato Mochi is my favorite.
A variety of mochi confection
