Based in Sakurai City for over 50 years, Kippoan has been popular among many people over the years for its special Japanese confectionery. As a long-established Japanese confectionery shop, they are particular about red bean paste. Every piece is handmade and sold one by one. Many seasonal confectionaries are available all of which are produced under the concept represented in their name, “Yamatoji Yushinka.” The meaning is “Trace the Yamanobe-no Michi Trail (ancient trail passing through some of Nara’s most historic areas) from the village of Miwa in Nara while enjoying dreaming of Asuka.”

The name of the confectionery, "Iware", is the old name for the area which used to cover the central Sakurai and the southeastern Kashihara. This milky baked confectionery contains yellowish bean paste mixed with fresh cream inside of soft dough made with ample butter and milk.

Miwa region in Nara is known as the birthplace of somen noodles in Japan. Isamu Seimen is located at the foot of the majestic Mt. Miwa. They have continued to produce somen noodles using the traditional hand-stretch technique called “tenobe” for more than 90 years since its establishment. No food additives are used as they want their products to be "truly delicious and safe." Only products made 100% in-house are sold.

Shiratama Somen is a product of the noodle master's best efforts, produced using the hand-stretching technique called “tenobe”. White, shiny, firm and elastic somen noodles have a sticky texture.

The shop is located from a 5-minute walk distance to the west from Abe Monjuin Temple. Convenient for access from Asuka and other tourist attractions. Feel free to stop for a break during your strolling. Their cheerful staff will welcome you.

The shop is located next to Sakurai City Hall. Convenient for access from historical tourist attractions. There is an eat-in space so feel free to stop for a break during your strolling. Their cheerful staff will welcome you.

Rose-no Kabin is a sweets shop specializing in German pastries, including cakes and baked goods. They have been loved by local people for many years. Each item representing four seasons of Japan is carefully made. A zestful eat-in space is on the second floor where you can enjoy relaxing moment.

Choose coffee or tea (tea options: black, with milk, lemon, strawberry, apple, Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Gray)

A popular restaurant with a pretty pink façade and a very large parking space. The rice and vegetables used in their dishes are grown on their own farm. Ingredients are fresh and safe and many of the meu items feature each season. They offer an extensive Western menu and also serves dishes featuring local items such as chilled somen noodles, nyu-men (somen noodles in warm soup) and soba noodles.

Aromatic original blend of coffee.

A log-cabin style cake shop whose building is made of wood imported from Finland. Inside of the shop is filled with the warmth of wood. Cakes that are made with the finest ingredients, like treasures, are displayed in the showcase. There is also a cafe space with a variety of menu items. Relax and enjoy your time.

Coffee is made from organically grown beans. Tea is an original blend of orange pekoe.

Kogodo is an artisanal studio located on the road approaching the Omiwa-jinja Shrine (Miwa-myojin). It was founded in 1923 (in the Taisho era) and is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. The third-generation owner, who is also a Grade 1 Hyogu Master and a member of the Japan Society for the Conservation of Cultural Property, does his work with great care, believing that it may be one of many jobs for him, but it is the only service for customers. This studio sells original souvenirs related to Miwa.

These homemade cakes contain sake lees from the Miwa sake brewery and somen noodles prepared using the traditional hand-stretch technique. Sake lees and somen noodles used in the preparation are derived from the Miwa region of Japan, which is the birthplace of sake brewing and somen noodles. With its crispy texture and the flavor of sake lees, these homemade cakes are a new delicacy of Miwa. If homemade cakes of Miwa is sold out Other products will be provided.

This restaurant is near the second torii gate of the Omiwa-jinja Shrine. Here, guests can enjoy Miwa somen, made using the traditional hand-stretch technique in Miwa, the birthplace of somen noodles, either as cold somen or as hot nyumen noodle soup. Apart from this, guests can also relish other local delicacies of Nara, such as kakinohazushi.

Somenfushi is the rounded, curved parts formed at the top and bottom of the hand-stretched noodles when hung out to dry.
One can enjoy them in miso soup or eat them as a snack after frying it in oil.

Café Neutral is a popular “Italian restaurant” in the city. The dishes served at this café are mainly made from local ingredients and provide a comforting and nostalgic flavor. Everyone, including children and seniors, can delightfully enjoy the food here.
Their specialty, curry pasta with seared cheese, is the most popular and is sold as retort curry sauce. It has received much attention as a symbol of good luck because it was created in the vicinity of the Abe Monjuin Temple.

Prepared with water from over 30 different vegetables, this Keema curry is enjoyed with delicate spiciness and includes plenty of ginger. It pairs well with various recipes such as pasta, doria, bread, etc.

Hotel Nara Sakurai No Sato provides a rich experience of locally-grown food and agriculture in the Nara region. Located in the beautiful green countryside, guests can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with flavorful and seasonal Yamato vegetables, locally branded foodstuffs, and elaborately designed furniture made of timber from Nara Prefecture. Dishes prepared at the on-site restaurant using seasonal vegetables grown in the prefecture are also very popular.

It offers one seasonal mini dessert, such as ice cream, sorbet, or mini cakes. 
*Contents of the dessert vary depending on the time of year.

This hotel is conveniently situated just a minute’s walk from the JR/Kintetsu Sakurai Station. The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet and has a huge public bath, making it ideal for performing various activities in the Sakurai, Kashihara, and Asuka areas, such as sightseeing, walking around historical sites, and doing business. The on-site dinner restaurant offers a wide range of a la carte dishes, set meals, and alcoholic drinks.

Guests can choose one drink, from soft drinks to beer, sake, and shochu, to pair with their meal. *Ordering just drinks is not allowed.

Hoendo is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop on the approach to Hasedera Temple. Their signature items, Kusa-mochi and Kusa Yaki-mochi (baked on both sides), contain mugwort which is known for its medicinal properties. Both items have a healthy and simple taste. They select raw materials carefully and experienced staffs put their heart and soul into every item. Another popular item at Hoendo is Sekihan Manju: steamed rice mixed with red beans is wrapped by the dough made from flour and yam, then, steamed to give soft texture.

The baked Kusa-mochi rice cake has crispy texture on the outside and oozy and sweet red bean paste inside.

A vacant house has been renovated and opened as a machiya (traditional townhouse) café. It is used as a community space for local residents, a place of relaxation for visitors and as a base for disseminating information on history and tourism. Lunch and light meals are served. Visitors are welcome to stop for a break. A selection of brochures on sightseeing spots around Sakurai and events in other parts of Nara is available.

Warabi-mochi is a Japanese confectionery made by mixing bracken (warabi) flour with water and sugar while heating, then cooling and hardening. Warabi-mochi is known as a specialty of Nara, as the area used to be famous for producing bracken flour.

A long-established shop specializing only in Kusa-mochi (sweet rice cake whose dough uses mugwort) for more than 60 years since its establishment. Their Kusa-mochi are made from locally grown, hand-kneaded natural mugwort (yomogi) which has a dark green color. There are two choices: unbaked or baked. The unbaked Kusa-mochi is soft and the baked one has crunchy texture. It will be fun to try both and compare the differences. They should be eaten on the same day as no additives are used.

The unbaked Kusa-mochi is made without sugar, thus, it retains natural flavor. Inside is filled with homemade sweet bean paste.

A cafe and shop in a renovated old Japanese house located on the approach to Hasedera Temple. They reproduced an old dumpling called Meoto Manju (reservation required), which is said to have been made during the Edo period (1603-1868) around the time when many people visited Ise Jingu Shrine. The shop also sells ceramics, glassware, Japanese paper, brushes, accessories and other items made by artists from Nara.

A set of postcards of photographs that a monk at Hasedera Temple taken and posted on their Instagram.

Idaniya is a ryokan inn with a long history in the town in front of the Hasedera Temple gate for approx. 160 years since 1861. Each guest room has a different atmosphere, making it enjoyable no matter how many times you visit. The Hasedera Onsen (hot spring) is a rare natural hot spring in Nara, gushing out from 600-meter underground. The water is colorless, soft on the skin and has a high warming effect, making the skin smooth. Kaiseki cuisine that makes the most of seasonal ingredients and Nara's typical local dishes will be a delight, too.

Store-bought tea in a plastic bottle.

One of their popular items, “Kannon Pudding,” is Japanese-style caramel custard whose texture is smooth and taste is so rich. The package design features the Eleven-Headed Kannon (bodhisattva of compassion) of Hasedera Temple. Other items include an original T-shirt whose design was inspired by the Hasedera Temple’s lantern, sweets made from Yoshino kuzu (plant starch), tea and honey from Nara, and many others.

Jinki-do’s original item.

Inden is a dyed deerskin leather with patterns created using lacquer and stencils. This craft technique is said to have been introduced from India between the mid-16th and 17th centuries. The name, “Inden” is said to have been shortened from "Indo-denrai (coming from India)." Deerskin is soft and light, thus, it is an ideal material for bags and accessories. Various items such as wallets, card cases and drawstring bags are available.
https://kagura-hasedera.com/deerskin.html

Kagura’s original item.

Nakayama, established in 1953 on the approach to Hasedera Temple, sells a variety of clothing items including T-shirts, women's clothing, school uniforms, work clothes, office wear, underwear and socks. Not only locals but also tourists are welcome. Japanese Harusame (bean-starch vermicelli noodles), dried yuba (soy milk skin) and kuzukiri (plant starch noodles) are good choice for souvenirs.

Harusame noodles made from 100% starch of the Japanese potato and sweet potato starch.

Based in Sakurai City for over 50 years, Kippoan has been popular among many people over the years for its special Japanese confectionery. As a long-established Japanese confectionery shop, they are particular about red bean paste. Every piece is handmade and sold one by one. Many seasonal confectionaries are available all of which are produced under the concept represented in their name, “Yamatoji Yushinka.” The meaning is “Trace the Yamanobe-no Michi Trail (ancient trail passing through some of Nara’s most historic areas) from the village of Miwa in Nara while enjoying dreaming of Asuka.”

Savory pie baked crisply with well-matured soy sauce.

À seulement une minute de marche de la sortie Est de la gare de Kashihara Jingu-mae (chemins de fer Kintetsu). Grâce à son accès facile, l'hôtel est idéalement situé pour les visites touristiques et les promenades historiques dans le village d'Asuka, les régions de Kashihara et de Sakurai, ainsi que la région de Yoshino, célèbre pour ses cerisiers sauvages.

Profitez d'une pause thé chaleureuse et relaxante avec le thé de Nara

Enjoy a variety of freshly baked breads, including their premium bread. There is a wide range of colorful handmade sandwiches, prepared bread and sweet breads. Their Morning Set (breakfast) is a must-not-miss until 11:00 a.m.! Chef's signature dishes are popular during lunch hours which include all-you-can-eat of the premium bread.

Located inside Kintetsu Yamatoyagi Station, on Platform 6 bound for Kyoto.
In addition to Nara’s specialty kakinohazushi, we also offer bōzushi (stick sushi) and local confections from Kashihara.
Please feel free to stop by when transferring trains from Osaka or Nagoya.

Located inside Kashiharajingu-mae Station, near the central ticket gate, where the Kintetsu Kashihara Line connects with the Yoshino Line and Minami-Osaka Line.
In addition to Nara’s specialty kakinohazushi, we also offer bōzushi (stick sushi) and local confections from Kashihara.
Please feel free to stop by on your way to Kashihara Shrine or Yoshino.

For customers who order in-store menu items totaling 1,000 yen or more, we offer a complimentary mini dessert: two bite-sized ice treats made with amazurasen—an ancient sweetener recreated after ten years of research by Nara Women’s University. Said to have been enjoyed even by Sei Shonagon, this rare sweet from the sugarless era delivers a refreshing and elegant taste. Please close your eyes and savor its refined flavor. ※When ordering, please present this pamphlet and mention this offer. Note: The image of the hospitality item is for illustration purposes only.

A cozy café located at the entrance of Imai Town, specializing in house-roasted coffee. High-quality beans are freshly roasted in-store, and coffee beans are also available for takeout. The café serves breakfast, lunch, and sweets. Popular menu items include rice with raw Piyotama eggs, Piyotama egg sandwiches, and the original coffee parfait. For souvenirs, try the Haniwa cookies and drip coffee packs. Relax with the aroma of coffee and stop by for a break during your stroll through the town.

At our café and dining space, we are committed to using locally sourced ingredients as part of our contribution to the community.
We strive every day to create a place where guests can find comfort and relaxation.
Enjoy our warm, handmade dishes prepared with care.
Lunch is available starting from 800 yen, so please feel free to drop by.
We also welcome guests who simply wish to enjoy a drink and take a break.

This garden offers seasonal beauty throughout the year: weeping cherry blossoms and moss phlox in April, clematis and rugosa roses in May, irises and hydrangeas in June, and from July to September, visitors can enjoy blueberry picking and jam-making experiences. A place where you can fully embrace nature through the changing seasons.

Opened in 2022, YatakiyA is a renovated traditional Japanese inn (kominka auberge).
Guests can enjoy creative Italian cuisine made with locally grown vegetables and relax in herbal baths infused with Yamato tōki (Japanese Angelica), a medicinal herb cultivated in Uda, known as the “town of herbs.”
Surrounded by satoyama countryside, the inn offers a serene environment for reflection and a rich, restorative experience.

Our original hospitality drink, a craft cola developed in-house, is made with Yamato tōki. Lightly sweetened, it is refreshingly smooth and easy to enjoy.

Guests who dine for lunch or dinner, or stay overnight, will receive one glass of our original herbal craft cola.

Hashimotoya is a traditional ryokan inn established in 1871. Enjoy hearty and healthy dishes using wild mountain plants and natural ingredients from ancient Japan in a tranquil setting with a view of the vermilion Taiko Bridge in front of the Muroji Temple gate. The inn accepts not only overnight stays but also for lunch and rest after visiting Muroji Temple.

Eikichi has been serving Kaitenyaki with mugwort (yomogi) in front of the Muroji Temple gate for 50 years! The dough is made from simple ingredients - no eggs, only wheat flour, baking powder and water - yet it has an exquisite, chunky texture. The mugwort is a natural product picked from the surrounding mountains. Each piece is baked by their female owner who always gives smiles on her face. Kaitenyaki is a disc-shaped Japanese confectionery made by sandwiching sweet red bean paste between wheat flour dough.
http://voicecream.jp/en/see/eikichi/

Store-bought drink.

Nakamuraya is a casual eatery whose signature products are dishes using wild plants, somen noodles and simmered sweetened amago (a kind of mackerel). One of the popular items is warm somen noodle. The noodles are the locally-famous Miwa Somen stretched by hand which are thin but have firm texture. Adding chili pepper flavored with yuzu citrus to the broth is recommended. The view from the window seats is very picturesque.

A handmade fabric item made by their female owner. Choose one from the masks, mask cases, corsages, and more.

Noguchi Shoten is a small souvenir shop located in front of the Muroji Temple gate. They offer souvenirs of Nara and simple yet tasty local products such as handmade konnyaku and simmered sansho pepper corn. They cherish every encounter with people who visit Muro. Their simmered konnyaku handmade by their grandmother is a must try.

Konnyaku cooked slowly over time in soup stock and soy sauce.

Founded in 1932, Morimoto has maintained a history of more than 90 years. Each one of yomogi-mochi (rice cake using mugwort) is handmade using locally grown fresh mugwort. The sweet red bean paste and the aroma of the mugwort are a perfect combination. You can buy it from one piece. There are two types of bean paste: koshi-an (silky paste) and tsubu-an (with texture of beans).

Sweet red bean paste is wrapped with rice cake mixed with yomogi mugwort.

Darumaya Shoten is specialized in Daranisuke, an ancient traditional Japanese medicine. Daranisuke is a gastrointestinal medicine with a history of 1,300 years. It is said that the founder of Shugendo, Enno Gyoja, taught the method of its production. It has been loved and used since ancient times as a natural herbal medicine with no side effects. Nara's local sake is also available in the shop.

One of the main raw materials of Daranisuke is the bark of amur cork tree, known as asphellodendron. The plant is boiled down to a water extract and dried with geranium herb and curcuma rhizome.

Omoya is the closest and most convenient car park to the entrance to the Muroji Temple gate. There is also a shop at the toll booth where they sell bath agent called “Asuka Yakushito” and “Tenshin” both made from herbal medicines from Japan that are popular with women. Feel free to drop by.

Homemade shiso juice made with red shiso from Nara Prefecture

Ichiyado displays and sells wood carvings of Buddhist statues and other objects. The carving techniques found on each work are extremely detailed and delicate. Itto-bori is the name of an ancient Japanese wood carving technique, and at the same time refers to carvings or engravings made with a single knife.

Original design is engraved by laser on chopsticks made of Japanese cedar wood. Comes in a chopstick bag with a set of three chopsticks.

The building has a quaint appearance as it was a former sake brewery and the inside emanates a nostalgic atmosphere. The Kotodama Lunch which includes ample of local vegetables is very popular. Their sweets are characterized by the abundant use of colorful fruit. Specialties of Asuka and other local produce, from accessories to lacquerware, are also available.

Special cookies in the shape of Nyoirin Kannon (bodhisattva of compassion), the principle image of Okadera Temple. As Okadera Temple is famous as a place which expels bad luck, the cookies dough is blended with azuki bean powder.

Kokoro Gohan offers wholesome lunches prepared with brown rice and vegetables from Asuka, as well as donuts made using sakadane yeast, a natural yeast culture created from rice and koji.
As part of our hospitality, we provide one lunch drink to enjoy in the restaurant.

Located on the first floor of Nara Prefecture Complex of Man’yo Culture, this restaurant offers curry and sweets with a view of the rich natural beauty of Asuka. Dishes using vegetables and fruits grown in the village are tasty and visually appealing, too.
The name "CURRYON" is a combination of the words "carry on" and "curry.” It expresses the wish that the town and its people will be connected through curry, and make further development from the village of Asuka into the future.

The specialty of this shop is Yaki-mochi.  Yaki-mochi is a grilled rice cake whose inside is filled with homemade sweet red bean paste made from the beans from Hokkaido.  The beans are cooked with coarse sugar slowly. It tastes not too sweet but achieves perfect balance of sweetness.  The rice cake doesn’t harden even after a while, thus, it’s an ideal souvenir to take home.  Freshly baked Mitarashi Dango (dumplings with sweetened thick soy sauce) is also available in the store as well as seasonal products. 

Two different kinds of Yaki-mochi: one is plain and the other contains yomogi (mugwort) in the dough.

Our restaurant is dedicated to the concept of “local production for local consumption,” offering dishes that highlight the flavors of the region. We especially make use of seasonal ingredients from Asuka Village, while vegetables are delivered directly from farmers in Nara Prefecture to ensure maximum freshness. This commitment has earned us praise for the delicious quality of our food.

As a token of hospitality, we present one of our signature large-sized canelés, baked carefully in-house. With its crispy exterior and soft, chewy center, it is one of our most popular items.

In the neighborhood of the shop, there are many spots that history fans will love to visit, such as the Yamanobe-no-Michi Road, the ancient burial mounds and historical museums. Feel free to stop for a break during your strolling. Their cheerful staff will welcome you.

Bunkamura Nigiwai Market in Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex
Bunkamura Nigiwai Market in the Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex. A variety of products from Nara are available at a shop selling traditional crafts and a farmer’s market where visitors can purchase agricultural product. In addition to freshly harvested vegetables and other agricultural products, a wide range of food products from local manufacturers and locally brewed sake are also available. It is an ideal place to discover souvenirs of Nara.

Bathing ticket of the Natural Hot Spring Kamokimi-no Yu, located in the southern part of Gose City, at the foot of Mt. Kongo and Mt. Katsuragi. The coupons have an expiry date. It is valid for three months from the date of receipt. *Note that the ticket expiry date is not the same as the expiry date of the Omotenashi service for this event. https://kamokiminoyu.net/

The wing is a part of Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex. It provides information such as traffic information as well as information about historical and cultural resources and sightseeing throughout Nara. A concierge will provide sightseeing and facility information.

One original sticker of Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex will be presented.

Marukatsu is a popular Tonkatsu (Japanese port cutlet) restaurant located in the Koryu Nigiwai Wing of Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex. It functions both as a cafe and a restaurant. Take-out menu items are also available.

Marukatsu croquettes are made with plenty of butter. We offer one croquette as a complimentary item, though the type of croquette may vary depending on the day.

This spacious restaurant offers delicacies of Yoshino, such as kakinohazushi.
Established during the Taisho era (the 1910s), the restaurant’s name “yakko” is a reference to the servants/attendants who were at the forefront of the daimyo’s procession in the traditional “Hanakueshiki (Flower Offering Ceremony)” at Kimpusen Temple.
Kakinohazushi is a masterpiece, prepared carefully and lovingly, utilizing the nutritional qualities of the ingredients, and valuing the freshness of persimmon leaves!

These dispensable chopsticks, made with local Yoshino cedar, are used to serve meals in the restaurant. They add color to the dining table and emanate a pleasant cedar aroma.

This dumpling shop is in front of the Nio-mon Gate of Kimpusen Temple and has been in business since the Meiji era.
It has inherited the flavors passed on by its predecessors and serves as a teahouse to the worshippers on pilgrimages to Yoshino. Its specialties include the kusamochi, presented to the Emperor Showa, and sakura yokan, inspired by the cherry blossom scenery of Mt. Yoshino.

Kusamochi gives the original taste and aroma of mugwort in every bite. The mugwort is harvested in early spring throughout the year and is rich in color. *Cannot be used in conjunction with other services.

This restaurant offers genuine Yoshino “kudzumochi” and “kudzukiri,” made using only genuine Yoshino kudzu and water. These specialties have a shelf life of 10 minutes. The restaurant offers the original taste and beauty of kudzu with its “translucent, glass-like appearance,” “unparalleled smoothness,” and “gentle and silky texture as grown naturally.” It is one of the few restaurants in Japan that only deal with kudzu.

It contains only genuine Yoshino kudzu and refined sugar (Awa Wasanbonto) with no other starches. This product is gentle on the body and the soul.

Located in Yoshino, a sacred site of Shugendo, this shop has long specialized in selling Shugendo supplies, such as costumes, ritual instruments, and robes. The showcase facing the street is adorned with conch shells (horagai). A conch shell is one of the ritual tools used in esoteric Buddhist rituals and is blown by shugensha when reading, signaling, or giving commands.
Delivery by mail order is available nationwide. Daranisuke (medicines) and souvenirs are also available.

Visitors can choose one of three types of incense sticks, including the “Tanrei Kojurin” which has clean sandalwood fragrance. (The offer ends as soon as supplies run out.)