Japanese Confectionery Spots in Nara Area

Area

Nara
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Shopping

Groceries

Japanese Confectionery

Tenpyoan (Todai-ji Temple Branch)

4.5

24 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Kasuganochou 16 Todaiji Temple Yumeikaze Hiroba

This is a Japanese confectionary store in the Yume-Kaze Plaza in front of the gate of the Todai-ji Temple in Kasugano Town, Nara City. The store makes sweets from locally grown ingredients such as Japanese Yamato-imo yam and Yoshino-kuzu arrowroot. A popular item is the Japanese hotcake sweet bean paste sandwich called Yamato sanzan dorayaki. They are made freshly daily with red beans, and flour and eggs from a Tokachi farm. There is also a cafe on the second floor where customers can enjoy sweets and Miwa Somen noodles.

I was looking for something sweet on my way out from Nara Park, and this shop looked really nice! I bought a small strawberry daifuku and a matcha cake with white chocolate cream filling. Let me tell...
Nakatanido

4.0

366 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Hashimotochou 29

This is a yomogi mochi rice cake specialty shop located on Sanjo-dori Street in Hashimoto Town, Nara City. The yomogi mochi is made from carefully selected locally grown produce. Hot rice is pounded swiftly according to traditional methods to make the soft and springy texture of the sweet. The shop is visited by many customers who come to see the skilled combination of the craftsmen turning and pounding the rice first hand.

The nicest, freshest mochi I’ve had in Japan (and I’ve tried a lot!) I also got to see them making the mochi which was really interesting.
Dangosho Bojo Main Store

5.0

5 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Kashiharashi Higashiboujouchou 860

This dumpling shop founded in 1878 is known for its tasty kinako dango (sweet dumplings sprinkled with roasted soy flour), each of which is carefully made the old fashioned way and served on a bamboo skewer. Guests can enjoy their dumplings inside the shop's bright Japanese-style interior. Although the shop officially closes at 5:00 p.m., we recommend going earlier in the day as it sometimes sells out and closes early.

お店はいつもお客さんでいっぱいです。店内でも一本からでもいただくことができ、お茶まで出してくれます。テイクアウトもいいですが、ここでいただく作り立てが一番オススメです。テイクアウトは、お土産にも最適で、昔から手土産で欲しいNo.1です。
Chujodo Hompo

4.5

38 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Katsuragishi Taima 55-1

This long-standing confectioner, just a one-minute walk from Taimadera Station, is where they make and sell famous local specialty Chujo-Mochi. Chujo-Mochi is an unsophisticated Japanese confection that uses the native wild-growing mugwort of the Katsuragi area in the mochi which is then wrapped around elegant sweet smooth red-bean paste. Enjoy the traditional flavors of their Chujo-Mochi and sencha green tea set or red bean soup with kusamochi (rice flour dumpling) as you relax in the peaceful interior of the shop. The front has a wide variety of products packed for take away with everything from two-piece to 48-piece box sets.

当麻寺駅前にある中将堂。よもぎ餅の中将餅が有名てす。テイクアウトでお土産に購入。やわらかい草もちに、甘さ控えめのあんがのってます。さすが老舗の名物です。美味しいです。
Kaki no Senmon (JR Nara Station Branch)

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Sanjouhonmachi 1-1JR Nara Station Viera Nara 2F

This is a persimmon specialty store on the second floor of the commercial facility in Vierra Nara in Nara Station. The store sells products such as Japanese confectionaries using persimmons, dried persimmons, cakes, frozen desserts, jams and persimmon vinegar. A cold Japanese sweet that wraps persimmons with arrowroot called Kaki kori is becoming a talking piece as it was awarded the Japan Gift Grand Prize.
Dangosho Yagi Shop

4.0

49 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Kashiharashi Naizenchou Kintetsu Yagi Station front

This confectionary makes and sells sweet dumplings, a specialty of the Yamato province. Just like the flagship location, this Yagi location adjacent to Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station closes as soon as it sells out. Served on bamboo skewers, their kinako dango (sweet dumplings sprinkled with roasted soy flour) are made from just three ingredients; rice flour made from high-quality new rice ground the old fashioned way in a mortar, high quality kinako (roasted soy flour), and a special syrup said to have been created by Shogoro the First after many pained efforts.

本店に１度だけ行ったことありますね。近場で買えるのは、近鉄阿倍野店ですね。月１回(第三木曜日)13:00~諸国銘菓にて販売されています。販売は10本入りのみで、1人3箱まで買えます。ちょうどこの日は、友達に会う約束してたので、友達のお土産用と自分とこ用を買いました。やっぱここのおだんごはわらず柔らかくて美味しい。時間が経てば硬くなるのは当たり前なんだけど、ここのは1日経っても硬さが気にならないぐら...
Honke Kikuya Honten

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Yamatokoriyamashi Yanagi 1-11

Said to be Nara’s oldest Japanese confectionary shop, Kikuya was established in 1585. The shop got its start when the official Japanese confectionary of Toyotomi Hidenaga moved to the castle town of Yamatokoriyama. The shop’s signature item is the Oshiro no kuchi-mochi, which was even served at parties hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi -sweet an paste made with Tanba dainagon adzuki beans wrapped in mochi pounded rice and dusted with kinako roasted soy flour. The shop also sells a variety of other sweets, such as the popular “Kiku-no-Kotobuki”, which goes great with a cup of coffee. Closest station: Kintetsu-Koriyama Station.
Haniwa Manju Hompo

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Kashiharashi Kumechou 905-2 Kashihara Oak Hotel 1st Floor

This is a Haniwa Manju specialty shop located in a spot around one minute's walk from Kintetsu Kashiharajingu-mae Station. The manju (steamed yeast bun) on sale are made from koshian (smooth red bean paste) covered in castella dough, and each is molded into one of four haniwa (unglazed earthenware shapes) comprised of a horse, soldier, bell and pot. Another popular offering is their Manyo-kashi Asuka Otome pound cake made with ancient style So cheese boiled down over several hours in milk.
Shogetsudo

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Udashi Oudakami 1988

This is an old Japanese confectionery shop established around a century ago in Ouda-kami, Uda City. The famous Kimigoromo is soft whipped meringue wrapped in egg yolk and baked. The unique texture and flavor make it a popular souvenir too.
Tamura Mitarashi Store

3.5

5 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Ikomagunikarugachou Houryujiminami 1-6-23

This is a Mitarashi dumpling specialty shop on the south side of Horyu-ji Temple in Ikaruga Town. The simply seasoned dumplings with a blend of two types of soy sauce are popular. Visitors can enjoy freshly made dumplings as each dumpling is made to order.

個人住宅のような構えのお店に、1本70円のみたらしだんごの看板。注文すると丁寧に団子を焼いてくれます。しょうゆ味のこれ以上ないシンプルな味わいなんですが、団子の焦げた香りが意外に効いてます。
Manmando Michinori

4.0

4 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Hashimotochou 34

This is a Japanese confectionery shop located in Mochiidono Shopping Street in Hashimoto Town, Nara City. The shop sells buto manju sweets, popular as an offering during festivals at Kasuga Taisha Shrine as well as high grade Aoniyoshi, a dry sweet pressed into a pattern using refined Japanese sugar. Also, seasonal limited items such Waka-ayu, a fish-shaped sweet with a soft filling is available from the mid-May to mid-August.

「もちいどのセンター街」のアーケード街に位置する。飛鳥・奈良時代の遣唐使を介して伝わった「唐菓子」の「ぶと饅頭」は、あずきのこしあんを米粉のもちで包んで揚げた菓子であった。いにしえの国際都市奈良に思いをはせて味わう。箱入りでなくとも、バラで200円/個で求めることができる。お客様はインバウンド比率は少ないかもしれない。
Manshodo

4.5

8 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Yoshinogunyoshinochou Yoshinoyama 448

This Japanese sweets shop in Shimo-senbon, Yoshinoyama, Yoshino Town makes sweets by hand the traditional way. One of the Japanese sweets on offer is its two-layer Sakura Yokan made with cherry blossom flowers and matcha green tea. In the spring, people line up to buy the shop's kusa mochi, its flagship product. These popular mugwort rice cakes were once presented as an offering to Emperor Showa.

妻が「ひょうたろう」に並んで柿の葉寿司を買っている間にこちらの店で草餅と桜餅を買いました。店の中では職人さんが草餅をどんどん作っているのが見えます。この店は桜の時期でも平日であれば並ぶほどではなかったので助かりました。パックになった桜餅と草餅を買い求め、常温で保存して翌日に家で食べましたが、硬くなってませんでした。草餅はよもぎの香りもあり、道明寺の桜餅も美味しかったです。
Toraya Seasonal Japanese Sweets

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Tsurufukuinchou 31

This venerable Japanese sweets shop is located close to Sarusawa Pond. Its relaxed interior is filled with a wide variety of handmade Japanese confections including Matsuba Bolo, a confection only from flour and sugar, Tsurushigaki, a sweet containing sweet bean paste blended with persimmon jam, and a number of seasonal sweets. The shop's adorable cat-themed sweets are especially popular as souvenirs.
Senjuan Yoshimune Nara Main Shop

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Pref. Narashi Oshiagechou 39-1

For the past three generations, this confectionary has been making sweets using ingredients harvested from the bountiful nature of Nara that make people have an urge for eating daily. The shop's delectable warabimochi (bracken starch dumplings), the signature sweet of Nara, are made by hand from natural sundried sweet potato starch and domestically-produced genuine bracken flour.
TSURUYA-TOKUMAN Main Store

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Nara-shi Shimomikado-cho 29
Goryo Mochi Honpo

4.0

6 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Tenri-shi Yanagimotocho 1536

Goryomochi Hompo is a sweet shop that sells Japanese Mochi, sweet made of sticky rice. It is located just in front of the mausoleum of Emperor Sujin. The inside space is narrow, so you had better to...
Sanaburiya

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Kashihara-shi Nawatecho 243

This shop makes and sells Sanaburi Mochi, a kinako toasted soybean flour cake made with whole grain wheat whose recipe has been handed down in Nara since ancient times. A type of local traditional confection called hagessho mochi notable for its chunky texture, these exquisite treats have even been chosen as the winners in the summertime local Japanese confection division of a food contest.
Matsuya Honten

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Yoshino-gun Yoshinocho Iigai 520

"This confectionary shop opened in 1842. The shop is famous for its Yoshino Shui, a special kuzu starch gruel made exclusively with Yoshino kuzu starch produced using the ""kanzarashi"" method, which involves soaking it in icy-cold water. Sold in dry blocks, when covered with boiling water and gently stirred, it dissolves into a kuzu starch gruel with a very refined sweetness, and a small confection symbolizing a cherry blossom floats to the top. The shop is also filled with other sweets made with Yoshino kuzu and wasanbon fine-grained Japanese sugar, such as higashi dried candies, kuzukiri kuzu starch noodles, and kuzuame kuzu starch candies."
Sohonke Kotobukiya

4.5

4 Reviews

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Sakurai-shi Hase 755

This longstanding shop sells the Hasedera area's famous kusa mochi rice flour and mugwort dumplings. The buckets filled with Japanese mugwort out front draw the eye. In business for over 60 years, the shopfront display case continues to be filled with kusa mochi dumplings made the old-fashioned way. In addition to kusa mochi, the shop also has yaki mochi roasted rice cakes which are roasted right on the spot and piping hot. Both can be bought individually or in boxed sets.

We got the baked kusamochi. They were sotasty. We only bought a box, but we shouldve bought more. While they are baking, they gave us a tasting sample, too.
Nishiki no Sato Seiryuan

Gourmet / Alcohol

Nara Tenri-shi Ichinomoto Cho 3042

This Japanese confectionary shop is located in Ichinomoto-cho, Tenri City. The shop is famous for its Kaki Ekubo, a novel new Japanese-style confection made by wrapping fillings such as yuzu rind, walnuts, apricots, raisins, and chestnuts in dried persimmon. The shop also sells Shizenka, the yuzu rind, apricots, and other fillings used in the Kaki Ekubo; and Wa Chocolate, which consists of Shizenka covered with chocolate.

Nara

Nara City Ikaruga / Yamatokoriyama Asuka Kashihara Yamanobe Road / Sakurai Yoshino Tenkawa Village / Totsukawa Village Ikoma

Shopping Groceries Japanese Confectionery

Nara Areas

With a reputation almost as stellar as that of Kyoto, Nara is a must-visit for those searching for the remains of "traditional Japan." The largely green Nara city holds the majority of the prefecture’s treasures, such as the iconic Todai-ji Temple, in which a 15-meter tall Great Buddha sits, and Nara Park, where deer flock to befriend passersby. While mountains are by no means hard to come by in this area, for hiking with a reward, head to the Kii Mountains’ Yoshino district in spring, when the hillsides put on an impressive display of white and pink cherry blossoms.