Nara

Local ramen from Tenri, featuring a spicy soy sauce and pork bone broth loaded with Chinese cabbage, garlic chives and pork. It is said to have started at street stalls and is now Nara's signature ramen. The sweetness of the crunchy cabbage combined with the garlic and chili broth is addictive. Some shops let you choose the spice level. You can find it at many shops in Nara, centered on Tenri. It warms you up on a cold day.

Typical price

¥700–1,000

Where

Tenri and around

A Nara local dish: salted mackerel or salmon placed on bite-sized vinegared rice, wrapped in persimmon leaves and pressed. It is said to have been created in Nara's mountains, far from the sea, to preserve precious sea fish. Persimmon leaves have antibacterial properties, and their faint scent transfers to the sushi. Remove the leaf before eating. It has long been made in the Yoshino area and elsewhere. It is easy to buy at souvenir shops around Nara Station and Nara Park, and it keeps well enough for a souvenir.

Typical price

¥1,000–2,000

Where

Yoshino, Nara City and around

Hand-stretched somen noodles made in the Miwa area of Sakurai. Miwa is said to be the birthplace of Japanese somen and has a long history. Dough of flour and salt water is coated with oil and gradually stretched thinner and thinner by hand. The noodles are thin, firm and silky going down. Besides cold somen, they are also delicious hot as nyumen. Shops serving somen line the approach to Omiwa Shrine. There are also different thicknesses to compare.

Typical price

¥700–1,200

Where

Miwa, Sakurai

Pickles of white gourd, cucumber, watermelon and other vegetables, repeatedly transferred to fresh sake lees and aged for a long time. They have a rich sake lees aroma, an amber color and a firm bite. They are said to have begun at Nara's temples and became the city's signature product. Because they use sake lees, eating a lot is said to make some people tipsy. Enjoy them with rice, or sliced thin with drinks. They are also delicious chopped and mixed with cream cheese.

Typical price

¥800–2,500

Where

Nara City and around

A Nara local dish of rice cooked into a thin porridge with hojicha or bancha tea. Locals also call it okaisan, and it has long been eaten for breakfast. The toasty tea aroma and light texture make it gentle on the stomach and easy to eat. It is said to have begun as a meal eaten by monks at Nara's temples. It is often served with pickles and simmered side dishes. Try it for breakfast at inns in Nara or at restaurants that serve it. Enjoy a relaxing Nara morning.

Typical price

¥800–1,500

Where

Nara City and around

A Nara local hot pot of chicken and vegetables simmered in a chicken broth with milk. Legend says it began in the Asuka period, when a monk from Tang China introduced dishes using milk. The mellow richness of milk and the flavor of chicken combine into a gentle taste. It is filled with Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, green onion and other vegetables. You can try it at restaurants around Asuka village. Pair it with a stroll through Asuka, steeped in ancient history. It warms you to the core in the cold season.

Typical price

¥1,500–3,000

Where

Asuka and around

Kuzu mochi made with high-quality kudzu starch from the Yoshino area of Nara. Yoshino kudzu has long been prized as a luxury ingredient. Made by dissolving kudzu starch in water and kneading it, the mochi is translucent, springy and smooth in the mouth. The classic way is to eat it with brown sugar syrup and roasted soybean flour. When visiting Mt. Yoshino, enjoy it freshly made at a long-established kudzu shop. Chilled versions are perfect in summer.

Typical price

¥600–1,200

Where

Yoshino and around

A sweet made by dissolving Yoshino kudzu starch in water, setting it in thin sheets and cutting it into noodle-like strips. It is clear, slippery and pleasantly chewy. It is served floating in ice water and dipped in brown sugar syrup. At shops that make it to order, you can enjoy a freshly made texture like no other. Try it at shops near Mt. Yoshino or at sweet shops in Nara City. It turns cloudy over time, so enjoy its clear beauty right away on a hot summer day.

Typical price

¥800–1,500

Where

Yoshino, Nara City and around

Nara is known as a city that loves shaved ice. Nara City has Himuro Shrine, dedicated to the god of ice, where ice houses once stored natural ice. With that history, the city has many renowned shaved ice shops serving fluffy ice topped with seasonal fruits, matcha, hojicha and other unique syrups. Shaved ice events are sometimes held too. Popular shops draw lines, so allow plenty of time. Some shops are open even in winter.

Typical price

¥800–1,500

Where

Nara City

Famous dango from a long-established dumpling shop in Kashihara. Small dumplings are skewered, coated in brown sugar syrup and generously covered with roasted soybean flour. Enjoy the toasty soybean flour, the rich sweetness of the syrup and the chewy dumplings. With their simple, gentle flavor, they have long been loved by locals. They do not keep, so eat them the same day. The soybean flour spills easily, so be careful when eating. You may find yourself eating skewer after skewer.

Typical price

¥500–1,500 per box

Where

Kashihara (Yagi and around)