Nara

2026/9/17

Kashiya Nara: Traditional Wagashi & Nerikiri Near Nara Park

After spending time with the deer at Nara Park, we headed to a traditional Japanese sweets shop that I had wanted to visit for a long time: Kashiya (樫舎). The shop is located not far from Nara Park, in a quiet area of Naramachi lined with traditional Japanese townhouses. Its simple white noren curtain and beautifully restored machiya-style building immediately caught our attention. When we visited, the shop was very popular and there was a line outside. A Highly Regarded Wagashi Shop in Nara Kashiya is a well-known wagashi shop in Nara and has been selected for Tabelog's prestigious Hyakumeiten list. The shop is also known for producing traditional sweets connected with important Nara temples and shrines, including Kasuga Taisha and Yakushiji. Japanese singer-songwriter Masashi Sada has also publicly spoken about his fondness for the shop. Despite its reputation, the atmosphere inside was relaxed and welcoming. The traditional wooden interior had the warmth of an old Japanese townhouse, and the staff were very kind. Both eat-in and takeaway were available during our visit. The Popular Wagashi Course Was Not Available During Our Visit One of the special experiences at Kashiya is its seasonal wagashi tasting course. Unfortunately, the owner was away in Tokyo for an event at Takashimaya when we visited, so the wagashi course was not being served that day. It was a little disappointing, but we had come all this way, so we decided to buy some sweets to take away instead. Beautiful Cherry Blossom Nerikiri We chose this seasonal cherry blossom-colored nerikiri. ...

Nara

2026/9/17

Nara Park Guide from Osaka: Deer, Todaiji Temple & Travel Tips

We traveled from Osaka to Nara by train and finally got to do something we had wanted to try for a long time: feeding the deer at Nara Park. Nara Park is a sightseeing destination that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. It is also easy to combine with an Osaka trip, with the journey taking around an hour by train. In this guide, we share what we learned about traveling from Osaka to Nara, feeding the deer safely, toilets, places to take a break, and visiting Todaiji Temple and the Great Buddha. Getting from Shin-Osaka to Nara by Train From Shin-Osaka, the journey to Nara takes around one hour by train. That makes it easy to enjoy both Osaka and Nara during the same trip. We traveled on a public holiday, but the train was not especially crowded and we were able to sit down. The scenery gradually became quieter and more rural as we approached Nara. It was very relaxing. We arrived at JR Nara Station. Coin lockers are available at the station. At the time of our visit, large lockers cost around ¥1,300 and smaller lockers around ¥1,000. Locker prices may change. Women’s Restrooms at JR Nara Station Can Get Busy One practical thing we noticed was that the women’s restroom at JR Nara Station was very crowded. We waited around 15 minutes before getting in. Weekends and public holidays can be busy in Nara, so it is worth allowing extra time. There are restrooms inside Nara Park, but the ...