🍡 Abekawa Mochi
"Abekawa Mochi" is a regional dish in the Chubu region, with Shizuoka City at its center. It consists of freshly made mochi (rice cakes) coated with kinako (roasted soybean flour) mixed with sugar. The name "Abekawa Mochi" is derived from the Abekawa River that flows through the prefecture. There are two theories about the origin of the name: one suggests that it was named by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period, and the other claims that it became famous as a specialty sold at the Abekawa River teahouses among travelers on the Tokaido highway. Even in the present day, at the foot of the Abekawa Bridge, there are shops offering Abekawa Mochi, with some establishments boasting a history of over 200 years. This treat also makes an appearance in the travelogue "Tokaido-chu Hizakurige" written by Jippensha Ikku during the Edo period.