Gonin Byakusho

This is the name given to the five sweets shops, as a group, which line the path when one enters through the great gate at the 365th step on the Kotohira Shrine premises. Sitting behind their wares, under five beautiful white paper umbrellas, the vendors sell the Kamiyo sweets still made in the traditional method said to have been passed down for over 700 years. The name Gonin-hyakusho, by which these vendors are called, is an official title given to attendants in the sacred service of the shrine. In recognition of the services provided by their ancestors, these are the only vendors allowed to sell their produce within the confines of the shrine. The special kamiyo candy is an elegantly shaped golden candy made with the simple three ingredients of sugar, starch syrup and yuzu citrus. This hard candy with a faint yuzu scent comes with a very small hammer with which one is to crack the candy.