Shichimiya Honpo

Renowned as one of Japan's "Top Three Shichimi," this specialized Shichimi Togarashi shop was established in 1655 as a tea house at the intersection of the approach to Kiyomizu Temple, namely Kiyomizu-zaka and Sannei-zaka. Back then, they provided visitors to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and ascetics training at the Otawa Waterfall with a complimentary "Karashi-yu" - hot water sprinkled with chili pepper powder. Their inspiration to blend chili pepper with other ingredients such as Japanese pepper, sesame seeds, and hemp seeds marked the beginning of their venture as a Shichimi Togarashi specialty store.

While there's no strict definition for Shichimi Togarashi's ingredients and each shop boasts its unique blend, Shichimiya Honpo distinguishes its blend with aromatic components such as Japanese pepper, hemp seeds, white sesame, black sesame, green seaweed, and perilla. Just a sprinkle of their Shichimi can enhance the taste of any dish. The official website introduces a plethora of recipes, making it a fantastic reference for cooking enthusiasts.

In addition to their Shichimi products, they also sell Japanese pepper, Ichimi (single chili pepper), and Yuzu Ichimi. It's the perfect place to buy Japan's unique spices as souvenirs.