Nara

Welcome to Nara; the political and religious heart of ancient Japan! Located in the Kansai region, Nara is considered one of the oldest regions in Japan, having been in existence for thousands of years. Beginning in Nara with Heijokyo, the nation’s first capital, Japan’s history as a unified state dates back 1300 years to the Nara period. Around this time, Buddhism flourished, and arts and architecture were at their peak. Nara’s rich heritage spans ancient monuments, sacred mountain trails, and some of Japan’s oldest temples and shrines. Many of these are included in the three World Heritage Sites that cover the region.

Destinations

Nara is easily accessed from Osaka and Kyoto. It is now most famous for Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Mt Yoshino, and stunning cherry blossom spots in the spring.

Group Meals

We arrange a wide array of meal choices for you, from Japanese traditional set meals, all you can eat, to local and seasonal specialties. Join us in exploring the taste of Japan!

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Local Specialty

Different regions have their own traditional recipes and agricultural farming system. Many of the regional dishes can only be tasted in the original area they came from.

Narazuke

Traditional Japanese pickles are made from fresh fruit and vegetables that are soaked in salt, mirin, sugar, and sakekasu. Sakekasu is sake lees, what remains after pressing sake mash. Narazuke requires a minimum of 1 to 3 years to make. The main ingredient of narazuke is white melon, which is mixed with an assortment of seasonal fruit, vegetables, and spices such as cucumber, ginger, Japanese apricot, and watermelon.

Miwa Somen

Very thin noodles, yet not too soft. Somen are made from flour, just like udon, but are knead during the cold winter, which gives somen a smooth yet strong texture. Served cold, this noodle only takes 1-2 minutes to boil. Somen is a favorite in the hot summer months when it is eaten cold in an icy soy sauce and fish stock broth.

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Experience

Whether this is your first time visiting, or returning, make sure to participate in these unique activities, that cannot be done elsewhere!

Calligraphy Brush Making

Nara is the birthplace of Japanese traditional ink brushes. You can make your own (big and small), and take them home. The experience takes approximately 60-90 mins for around JPY 2,200/person and includes the process of soaking the brush to its core with liquid glue, removing the glue with thread, and drying the brush. You can also enjoy watching craftsmen’s work, try makeup brushes, and shopping

Gripped Sumi Experience

Nara’s ink’s deep black color is the result of an ancient process that was first brought from China 1,400 years ago. Since then, hard blocks of Nara Sumi have been mixed with water and rubbed to create a natural ink, used in nearly every form of writing, including calligraphy. At Kinkoen, you can try gripping it and feel the true texture, softness, and warmth of raw Nara Sumi.

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