Matsuhashi-san's Souvenir Stand
戸隠へ旅する時に、家に持って帰れるお土産は比較的にユニークなものが多い。戸隠産の竹で出来たバスケットや、戸隠のそば粉（私がいつもこれを買って、亀清で出すお茶菓子のクッキーを焼く時に使う）、忍者の道具、そして最近の戸隠パワースポットのブームに合わせてパワーストーンとか。私の気に入りはそば屋「山口屋」の売店で扱っている手ぬぐいです。戸隠神社の記念で、鳥居のマークの模様です。が、良く見れば、１つだけが鳥居じゃなくて、漢字の「戸」。まさに「戸・隠し」だ。
戸隠でいくつかのお土産屋さんがあるけど、今回に顔を出したのは中社の前にある松橋さんのお店。戸隠道の忍術に興味があれば、オーナーの松橋さんに聞いてみてください。その返事が痛いかもしれないのでご注意を。
Togakushi has lots of unique souvenirs to take home from your visit. There are wooden baskets made of woven bamboo, made locally, as well as the famous soba buckwheat noodles and flour (I use this flour in the cookies I bake to serve our guests with their tea here at Kamesei Ryokan), ninja toys and equipment, and, in keeping with the current Togakushi 'power spot' boom, power stones, too. My favorite souvenir is a tenugui bandana sold at the souvenir stand inside of the Yamaguchi-ya soba shop. It features a pattern of torii gates in honor of the Togakushi shrines. But if you look closely, one of them is actually the Chinese character for Togakushi's "To". It's a clever design.
Of the several souvenir shops in Togakushi, this time we stopped in at Matsuhashi-san's shop in front of the Chusha (Middle Shrine). If you are curious about Togakushi's ninja traditions, Matsuhashi-san is the man to ask. Just beware his way of answering may be hazardous to your health!
