Extend your visit to Todaiji Temple and explore these 5 restaurants to enjoy local flavors｜Nara Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jul 16 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Nara

Extend your visit to Todaiji Temple and explore these 5 restaurants to enjoy local flavors｜Nara

With its elegant temple architecture, an enormous Buddha statue, and 1,200 deer frolicking around the grounds, the image that comes to mind when thinking of the ancient city of Nara is likely that of Todaiji temple. After enjoying a stroll filled with the deep historical and cultural atmosphere of Yamato, one would surely want to savor the 'the essence of Nara' in the cuisine as well. Therefore, this time, we have selected restaurants that pride themselves on using local ingredients. Here are five restaurants that will double your travel memories.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Nara.

1. Sukiyaki [Kitsune]

Enjoy a sukiyaki course menu featuring ingredients from Nara Prefecture. A variety of creatively designed menus.

Enjoy a sukiyaki course featuring ingredients from Nara Prefecture. A variety of creatively designed menus.

A 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. If you want to enjoy a stroll around Naramachi along with a visit to Todaiji Temple, the best choice for a meal is the sukiyaki restaurant [Kitsune]. In addition to Yamato beef, which has a good balance of lean meat and marbling, you can enjoy a variety of genre-less dishes that incorporate ingredients from Nara Prefecture. There are not only full-course meals but also easy-to-eat options like 'Sukiyaki Chirashi Ju (rice bowl topped with sukiyaki meat)'.

Extend your visit to Todai-ji Temple and enjoy local flavors at these 5 selected restaurants｜Nara

Inside the restaurant, there are table seats and private rooms completely soundproofed by walls also used for audio equipment. In this sophisticated space, guests can experience the flavors of 'updating traditional sukiyaki,' crafted by the owner-chef Shusaku Toba of the Yoyogi-Uehara restaurant [sio], which has earned a one-star rating on the gourmet site for two consecutive years.

Kitsune

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 5-minutes walk from Exit 1 of Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line / Past Higashimuki Shopping Street, it's one street back from Sarusawa Pond
Address: Shika Saru Kitsune Building, 22, Ganriin-Cho, Nara-Shi, Nara
More Details Reservation

2. Izakaya [Yamato Shunsai, Fish, Chicken Junpei]

A creative izakaya that showcases the charm of Nara's ingredients through original dishes

Near the bustling Sanjo Street, just a 4-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, at the restaurant [Yamato Shunsai fish, chiken Junpei ], guests can enjoy creative dishes featuring seasonal vegetables from Nara Prefecture and branded chicken such as Yamato Niku-Dori. Especially noteworthy are the locally sourced vegetables, personally selected by the owner, which offer the freshness of just-picked produce and the seasonal 'deliciousness' that can only be found at certain times of the year.

Not only does the restaurant offer casual counter seating, but it also has a raised tatami mat seating area with a sunken kotatsu. This allows guests to stretch their legs after a bit of walking, making it easy to stay longer than planned. The owner, who is a certified sake sommelier, has carefully selected a variety of sake from all over Japan, with a focus on about 10 types of local Nara sake. Guests can also enjoy a wide selection of seasonal sake.

Yamato Shunsai, Fish, Chicken Junpei

Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (last order 11:30 pm) / Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (last order 1:45 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
More Details Reservation

3. Izakaya [Irori to Jizake Yamato no Sanzoku Sohonten]

The charm of Nara Prefecture vegetables brought out by the irori (sunken hearth). Miyazaki Prefecture's branded chicken, Sakura Hime, is also a specialty.

If you are visiting Todaiji temple using JR, the restaurant [Irori to Jizake Yamato no Sanzoku Sohonten] located right in front of Nara Station is highly recommended. You can enjoy sunken hearth cuisine, which involves grilling carefully selected ingredients from both the mountains and the sea over charcoal, including vegetables from Nara Prefecture and other regions across Japan. The courses, such as the 'Nara Cuisine Course (2 hour All-You-Can-Drink included!)' that features Nara's specialties, are also very appealing.

The restaurant features a spacious interior with a warm wooden ambiance, offering counter seats, table seats, and traditional Japanese-style seating with a sunken floor. Private rooms are available for groups ranging from 2 to 30 people, making it suitable for various occasions such as couples or group gatherings. One of the highlights is the diverse selection of local sake from Nara Prefecture. It's no wonder the all-you-can-drink option is so popular.

Irori to Juzake Yamatono Sanzoku Sohonten

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (last order 11:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 3,500 JPY
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4. Italian [Trattoria Piano]

Encounter fresh Nara ingredients and Italian cuisine. The wood-fired pizza is very popular.

A fusion of fresh Nara ingredients and Italian cuisine. The wood-fired pizza is extremely popular.

[Trattoria Piano], known for its Italian cuisine that features fresh vegetables delivered directly from producers in Ikoma City, Nara Prefecture, is just a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. With a diverse menu that includes 'Nara Vegetables Fritto,' diners can enjoy the rich flavors of local vegetables. The restaurant also offers a variety of meat dishes such as Yamato duck, Yamato beef, and Yamato pork.

Extend your visit to Todai-ji Temple and enjoy these 5 local restaurants｜Nara

The interior of the restaurant, featuring an impressive wood-fired pizza oven, is designed with a 'piano' motif and consists of two floors with different atmospheres based on black and white. The wine selection, primarily from Italy, includes rare labels that are only available during certain seasons. Guests can enjoy a fulfilling course meal with a glass of wine in hand or savor à la carte dishes in a bar-style setting, making for a memorable evening.

5. Creative Cuisine [DININGROOM IN THE NARAMACHI (SETRE NARAMACHI)]

Ingredients & Arrangements. A top-tier restaurant packed with the unique flavors of Nara

An 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, the restaurant [DININGROOM IN THE NARAMACHI (SETRE NARAMAHI)] offers a variety of 'Nara' cuisine. The menu is filled with creative dishes that use ingredients such as Mahoroba Akaushi, a brand of beef from Nara, and seasonal Yamato vegetables. Additionally, the restaurant incorporates Nara's medicinal herbs, which are gaining attention as Japanese sake and Japanese herbs. Enjoy a dish full of creativity.

This restaudatnt is located in Hotel SETRE NARAMACHI, dinner is served in two sessions starting at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Guests can enjoy a sense of openness from seats featuring century-old Yoshino cedar tables, with views of the courtyard. There is also a private dining room that can accommodate up to 16 people, providing a serene atmosphere.

DININGROOM IN THE NARAMACHI (SETRE NARAMACHI)

Open: [Sunday,Monday,Wednesday - Saturday,Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm / Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (last order 1:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY
More Details

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.