Nara, Deer View Mirror - A deer's view of Nara.

21st April 2018

Wisteria

Now that the cherry blossom has gone, the Wisteria is blooming. Kasuga-taisha Shrine has a famous Wisteria tree, “Sunazuri-no-Fuji”. “Sunazuri” means “touching the ground”, and its blossoms hang down 1m. Remarkably, it’s about 800 years old and still blooms every year! It contrasts beautifully with the vermilion-coloured shrine. Since the temperature has been unusually high recently, it’s blooming 10 days earlier...

Nara Park

16th April 2018

Kimono Experience

Do you know how to wear Kimono? There are no buttons or zippers, only strings and ties. So, dressing in Kimono needs special knowledge and skill. Nowadays, most Japanese people can’t put on Kimono by themselves! Still, many want to wear Kimono at weddings and other celebrations. Why? Because anyone can feel gorgeous when wearing Kimono! So, when Japanese people want...

Shop

29th March 2018

Naramachi Beer Brewery

Since Sunday, the weather has suddenly turned unusually hot. Now, the cherry blossoms are blooming earlier than usual. So… Beer season has arrived! Naramachi has its own beer brewery, “Mugi-ya” It’s highly recommended, and not just for the beer selection. You can enjoy and relax with nice homemade foods and beer. Naramachi can feel like a maze of narrow streets,...

Bar

26th March 2018

Vegan Restaurant

On the way to the Saho River, you’ll pass the Vegan Restaurant “Kuppila” on Funahashi Shopping Street. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, you’ll love the food, which tastes amazing despite containing no meat, fish, eggs, milk or honey. The Lunch menu is only that day’s vegan set lunch, but you’ll get sufficient volume at a reasonable price (900JPY). During...

Vegetarian

24th March 2018

“Tamura-Seiho-En” Tea Shop

When you walk past this place, you’ll definitely notice the attractive aroma of roasting tea. It’s a wonderfully refreshing smell! The shop roasts and sells Yamato-cha. It’s a kind of Japanese green tea produced in Nara Prefecture. The building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property. This tea roasting machine has been in use for fifty years. It’s still put...

Shop

24th March 2018

“San-Kan-Shi-On” 「三寒四温」

These past few days, it’s been unusually cold. We have a phenomenon known as “San-Kan-Shi-On”「三寒四温」in Japan. It’s a cycle of 3 cold days followed by 4 warm days just before Spring. As a result, the cherry blossoms in Nara Park are still waiting to appear… From Sunday, the weather will be warm and fine, so the cherry blossoms will soon be...

Nara Park

14th March 2018

Omizutori (“Shuni-e”)

Omizutori (Water Drawing Festival) is officially known as “Shuni-e”. From its beginnings at Todai-ji Temple in 752, Shuni-e has continued down to the present day without pause (as of 2018, 1267 times and counting!) and will continue as long as Todai-ji Temple exists. It was formerly held February 1st~15th on the old lunar calendar, but today is held from March...

Events

11th March 2018

Yagi Shuzo (Sake Brewery)

Nara is known as the birthplace of Seishu (Refined Sake). There are many Sake breweries throughout Nara Prefecture. Naramachi is home to two Sake breweries, “Harushika” and “Yagi Shuzo”. “Harushika” is famous not only in Nara but also nationally. “Yagi Shuzo” in contrast is a small, peaceful place. The main Yagi brand of Sake is “Shohei” 「升平」 (Dry, 15°)...

Shop

2nd March 2018

Kataoka Bairin (Kataoka Plum Grove)

Plum blossoms are blooming at Kataoka Bairin (Plum Grove) in Nara Park.

Nara Park

3rd February 2018

Setsubun Festival

Today is Setsubun in Japan. Setsubun celebrates the coming of Spring. Setsubun Festivals are held in many places across Japan. Here you can see the celebration at historical Gango-ji Temple in Naramachi. Saito Ohgoma-kuyo: People can walk on the cinders of the holy fire, offering prayers to ward off evil and invite good luck. Take care of the smoke and sparks from...

Events