Experience Charm of Town and Craftsmanship of Nara
Naramachi is one of Nara's premiere sightseeing locations. Almost the entire area is within the former grounds of Gango-ji Temple, and there are many townhouses (machiya) from the Edo period. Restaurants, cafes, and shops utilizing these townhouses are located throughout the area, making it perfect for leisurely exploring.
Naramachi is the old merchant’s district, and its narrow streets are lined by traditional townhouses and warehouses from the Edo era. Many of the buildings have been preserved or faithfully recreated, and so exploring the area feels like stepping back in time. Don’t miss Koshi-no-Ie (Naramachi Lattice House) or Nigiwai-no-Ie, two fine examples of historic buildings with authentic period interiors, both of which are also free to enter. Typically these machiya townhouses feature white plastered walls with dark wooden latticework and tiled roofs. This is a great area to wander round and explore and you can find many restaurants, cafes, boutiques, souvenir shops, museums and galleries now housed in the old
While walking through the district you may stumble across the Naramachi Kobo, a small network of attractive alleyways (numbered one to three) which are home to a variety of shops selling everything from clothes and accessories to sweets, art and hand-crafted souvenirs, and there a number of boutique cafes serving tea and cake. Also check out Shika-no-Fune, a restaurant, shop and gallery serving traditional Japanese dishes in a wonderful authentic setting. For foodies there are a number of high-class restaurants in the area, including some Michelin-star establishments, and the popular Kurumi-no-ki, a simple and rustic but stylish cafe/shop in a peaceful and green spot.
Naramachi is the old merchant’s district, and its narrow streets are lined by traditional townhouses and warehouses from the Edo era. Many of the buildings have been preserved or faithfully recreated, and so exploring the area feels like stepping back in time. Don’t miss Koshi-no-Ie (Naramachi Lattice House) or Nigiwai-no-Ie, two fine examples of historic buildings with authentic period interiors, both of which are also free to enter. Typically these machiya townhouses feature white plastered walls with dark wooden latticework and tiled roofs. This is a great area to wander round and explore and you can find many restaurants, cafes, boutiques, souvenir shops, museums and galleries now housed in the old
While walking through the district you may stumble across the Naramachi Kobo, a small network of attractive alleyways (numbered one to three) which are home to a variety of shops selling everything from clothes and accessories to sweets, art and hand-crafted souvenirs, and there a number of boutique cafes serving tea and cake. Also check out Shika-no-Fune, a restaurant, shop and gallery serving traditional Japanese dishes in a wonderful authentic setting. For foodies there are a number of high-class restaurants in the area, including some Michelin-star establishments, and the popular Kurumi-no-ki, a simple and rustic but stylish cafe/shop in a peaceful and green spot.
