8 Amazing Restaurants in Nara, Japan

Kashiya -Japanese sweets

A teahouse specialising in traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi), at Kashiya, patrons can enjoy a number of snacks served with good quality tea. You’ll definitely have to make reservations to savour your sweets by the kitchen-bar, where you can watch the chef in action. Only the finest ingredients sourced from all over Japan are used here so this is most definitely a must-visit!

Hirasou -kakinoha sushi

A must-eat in Nara is kakinoha sushi, and the place to get a good one is Hirasou. Unlike conventional sushi where you get raw fish on vinegar rice, kakinoha sushi is vinegar rice with fish, usually mackerel, pickled in salt and vinegar, and then wrapped in persimmon leaf. The persimmon leaf has an antibacterial effect. Kakinoha sushi can be kept without refrigeration for three days. At Hirasou, you can also buy these sushi packed in a box to take home as a gift.

O.mo.ya -French and Japanese cuisines

There’s something about French and Japanese cuisines that make the two go so well together. Perhaps it’s because both cuisines demand an exacting attention to detail. For a meal that showcases the best of both, head to O.mo.ya, a restaurant located inside a 150-year-old townhouse erected during the Edo Period (1603 – 1868). The French-inspired dishes are served with a side of Japanese rice and miso soup, and it’s the perfect meal after a day of wandering around Nara City.

Nara Hotel Tea Lounge

Even if you can’t afford to put up at the beautiful 106-year-old Nara Hotel, you should most certainly try to squeeze in an afternoon to do tea there. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery with a slice of cake and an aromatic cup of tea or coffee. Deer will sometimes wander into the garden so get your camera ready!

Yoshinosou Yukawaya -Saigyou Nabe

A stay at the ryokan Yoshinosou Yukawaya in Yoshino mountain is certain to be a treat for foodies. Known for its Saigyou Nabe — a hotpot featuring Yoshino’s famed kuzu and healthy mountain veggies — the inn is perfect to rest those tired feet and feed that hungry tummy. Don’t forget to take a soak in its hot-spring baths too!

Miwa Chaya -somen

The water under Mount Miwa, in Sakurai city, is of such great quality that the somen (thin white wheat noodles) produced in this area is renowned. Miwa Chaya is an eatery located within the Miwa Somen Yamamoto store, where you can enjoy the somen in a set featuring other famous Nara eats such as kuzu mochi and kakinoha sushi. The noodles, served in chilled broth, are a welcomed treat for both locals and visitors in summer.

Archaique -bakery

This small bakery makes for a perfect pit-stop to quell those mid-day hunger pangs. Its freshly baked cakes, muffins, and cookies contain no preservatives, making them perfect snacks for kids. Be sure to grab a pack of deer cookies and deer cupcakes. The adorable animal is the mascot of Nara and is featured frequently in handicrafts and snacks. The little deer droppings are a symbol of luck but no worries, they are actually chocolate chips!

Genkishin Ramen

Located along the covered walkway of the Higashimuki Shopping Arcade, this ramen restaurant is well-known for its creamy chicken broth. If you’ve got a big appetite, go for its Daibutsu Ramen, a mega bowl of 200g of noodles accompanied by rice cakes, egg, pork, shrimps, and veggies. Want to try something different? The Tsukemen is a set of noodles served with a bowl of soup into which you dip your noodles. After the noodles, get the staff to mix up a bowl of rice and raw egg in the soup to finish your meal with a creamy porridge.