What is Nara known for? For many travelers, it's where you check out the large Buddha statue at Todai-ji Temple or hang out with the numerous deer at Nara Park. For those in the know, though, Nara is also known for its delicious, unique food.
Once Japan's capital city, Nara hides a wealth of history within its buildings. Everywhere you look tells a story dating back hundreds of years when the city was at the center of Japan's political, cultural, and culinary climate. This enduring nature also brings a fantastic set of food and sweet treats that stood the test of time.
Nestled between culture-rich Osaka and Kyoto, Nara shares some similarities with its neighbors while bringing something entirely different. If its neighbors have famous foods such as takoyaki and matcha, what is Nara famous for, food-wise?
The answer lies within its readily available natural resources. Nara is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests, providing fresh spring water for the prefecture. Many of Nara's specialty foods use this resource to their advantage, using it to grow delicious fruits or having it as a central component in their dishes. If there's one thing in terms of food that Nara is proud of, it's their water.
Visiting the culturally rich Nara demands travelers to walk through many historic landmarks and enjoy the sights of the iconic deer. Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple, Nara's most popular destinations, are about a 30-minute stroll through the city's beautiful streets and historic alleyways. Threading between destinations are several restaurants and food stands to keep you energized. Watch for these top 10 Nara specialties while on your historical journey.
1. Kuzukiri and Kuzumochi
When it comes to finding what to eat in Japan, mochi is almost always on the list. These sweet and salty Japanese rice cakes are a typical souvenir for even Japanese travelers, as each prefecture has its own way of spinning the recipe for these tasty treats. While most are made with rice, Nara's own specialty mochi uses none. Instead, Nara mochi uses water.
Nara's kuzumochi is a mixture of Japanese arrowroot (kuzu) starch and Nara's fresh mountain spring water, forming a glistening, jelly-like structure. This enhances the flavor and texture of the kuzumochi, and when topped with syrup for more sweetness and kinako soybean flour for a bit of nuttiness, it turns into a refreshingly sweet treat.
There are two ways to enjoy mochi in Nara. In the kuzumochi style, the jelly is shaped into dumplings resembling rice-made mochi. For kuzukiri, the jelly is cut into noodles, providing a lovely aesthetic and a different topping distribution compared to the mochi style. Kuzumochi and kuzukiri are great entryways to Nara's sweet side.
Have you got a sweet tooth? See what sweets to eat in Nara.
2. Chagayu (Tea Rice Porridge)
Riding in the same vein, chagayu is a traditional food from Nara, using the prefecture's famous spring water. Chagayu, meaning "tea porridge" in Japanese, is made by stewing rice in a pot of roasted green tea, giving a nuttier taste to a simple dish. Chagayu was served traditionally as a meal for monks at Nara's Todai-ji Temple from 1,200 AD. As the years passed, the simple dish became an everyday breakfast meal for common folk in Nara and neighboring prefectures.
While more extravagant foods have come into Nara locals' diet since then, this beloved porridge is still a commonly served dish in many local restaurants. If you find yourself in Nara in the morning and looking for something to eat, dip into a traditional restaurant for some gentle chagayu.
Chagayu and other recommendations in this list were created with monks in mind and are thus vegan-friendly. In fact, plant-based foodies will feel right at home at Nara! Check out our list of vegan restaurants in Nara for more recommendations.
3. Miwa Somen
Ramen and udon are usually at the forefront of what to eat in Japan, but Nara also has a hand in the Japanese noodle competition! Somen are super thin noodles served in a chilled broth (sometimes even with ice in the bowl), a refreshing cold soup to cool down during Japan's sweltering summer months.
Nara is said to be the birthplace of somen, using Nara's high-quality water and flour from the Miwa region of the prefecture. Miwa somen delights the tongue with subtle flavors on its own, though it's usually lightly flavored with soy sauce, pickles, and other lovely toppings and seasonings found around Nara. While Miwa somen's signature is in its refreshing and cool properties, those traveling in the winter months can enjoy the noodles in a hot soup called nyumen.
4. Strawberries
When walking through Nara's city streets, it's hard to avoid the signboards and advertisements for strawberry-flavored everything and the long lines of locals and tourists to get a taste of these sweet, red jewels. As it happens, Nara's mountainous region provides more benefits than just its water.
Nara's mountains make for a beautiful region ripe for strawberries, and farms for the fruit have seen a spike in growth in recent years. From January to June, several of Nara's popular strawberry farms offer picking events for visitors to taste the sweetness at the source.
Among the countless strawberry-flavored snacks and strawberry cakes, a particular summer favorite is the strawberry shaved ice. When paired with Nara's mountain-fresh spring water, foodies will be left with a beautiful combination of sweet and refreshing flavors to keep them cool through the heat. The countless lines attest to the deliciousness of Nara's strawberries, so try lining up for one and taste it for yourself!
5. Kaki (Persimmon)
Japanese persimmons, or kaki, have been a favorite in the prefecture for centuries. The autumn fruit was even recorded in documents in Soshoin, an ancient treasure house located in Todai-ji Temple in Nara.
You can see Nara's adoration for their signature fruit; various stores sell persimmon products, from fresh and preserved fruit to products made from stems and leaves. Nara takes pride in being one of its largest producers in Japan, and it shows.
6. Kakinohazushi (Persimmon Leaf Sushi)
Persimmon leaves are also used well in another of Nara's specialties: kakinohazushi. Literally translating to "persimmon leaf sushi," lightly pickled fish and rice are delicately wrapped in persimmon leaves, which were thought to have antibacterial properties. These leaves were used to help preserve the scrumptious morsels longer. This old tradition is now preserved as a cultural delicacy of Nara and is a must-try for those seeking a unique sushi experience. It also helps that it looks really cute in its neat little leaf packaging.
The best way to try kakinohazushi? Embarking on a Nara food tour, of course!
7. Narazuke (Nara-style Pickled Vegetables)
Among its influential practices gone down in history, Nara's method of making Japanese sake is probably the most prominent. In producing "temple sake," ancient brewers helped pave the way for the booming Japanese alcohol industry the world enjoys today.
A major caveat in making sake is the large amounts of byproduct it creates, called lees, or sake-kasu in Japanese. Sake-kasu also just so happens to be jam-packed with a lot of nutrients. Monks, who are known to make use of everything, used this byproduct to make pickles with a taste unique to the prefecture. The whole pickling process takes a long while — about 2 to 3 years for a batch of delicious narazuke — but nowadays, these are regularly served as side dishes around Nara, so foodies won't have to wait that long for a taste of history.
8. Kimigoromo (Egg Meringue Cakes)
Modern Japanese culture puts a lot of emphasis on buying souvenirs for loved ones and coworkers. Every major station has at least a few souvenir shops selling snacks and sweets representing their prefecture.
Kimigoromo is one of Nara's representative souvenir confectionery. Its light and blocky exterior may look like a piece of fried tofu, but inside, it holds a delicious egg whipped into its signature fluffy meringue. These little blocks of goodness are a hit among locals and travelers alike for their unique texture. Try one for yourself, and spread the love by buying a piece or two for a friend.
9. Yubeshi (Yuzu-Flavored Preserved Treats)
Winding down after a long day in a historical city like Nara calls for an equally traditional sweet for a dessert. Yubeshi is a special treat that was popular with monks and warriors and is still popular today. A preserved treat made from yuzu, stuffed with dried fruits and walnuts mixed with a miso or bean paste, it has been a great on-the-go treat for travelers.
10. Senbei
Many travelers come to Nara for the historical sights but also for the adorable deer. Scattered around Nara Park, several food stands offer a variety of senbei. These warm, crispy rice crackers come wrapped in toasted seaweed and with a variety of seasonings. Just be careful not to mix it up with shika senbei, which are for deer, not humans.
This list of Nara must-haves gives you a deeper understanding of the prefecture's deep historic charms. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and there are many more Nara specialties to discover! Use these recommendations as a base for a culinary exploration of the ancient city.
Still traveling around and need a quick list of what to eat in Japan? Check out our list of 40 Japanese foods you shouldn't miss.
