Japan Guide
Nara
Eating
1 
Ayura Café Hashimoto-cho 28 
0742/26-5339 
www.ayura.org Bright and friendly organic café on Sanjō-dōri at the end of the arcade, above a souvenir shop. The rice served with meals is a healthy mix of grains and beans. Price: Lunch sets from ¥1000 Opening time: Closed Wed
2 Café & Bar Kai 12-1 Wakido- 0742/24-3056 www.kai.st On the northern edge of Naramachi, behind a gallery, this trendy café serves teriyaki chicken sandwich lunch sets ¥600, cakes and bar food. D Opening time: aily except Mon 11am–11pm
3 Hirasō 30-1 Imanikadō-chō 0742/22-0866 Hirasō specializes in kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-wrapped sushi), though you'll also find all sorts of other tasty delicacies on the menu. Sushi sets start at ¥820, with more varied meals from around ¥3000, including cha-ga-yu. Opening time: Closed Mon
4 Jyu Jyu 27-1 Mochidono-cho 0742/27-6121 Up a narrow alleyway off the arcade south of Sanjo is this friendly izakaya serving Japanese home-style cooking such as fermented soy bean and onion omelette (¥700) and salads (¥600). Opening time: Closed Mon and every first and third Tues of the month
5 Mellow Café Axe Unit, 1–8 Konishi-chō 0742/27-9099. Fifty metres south of the Vivre department store, located in a faux-Spanish-style shopping arcade, is this large, open-plan Italian café-restaurant, specializing in oven-fired pizza. Price: Lunch specials start at ¥1050 Opening time: Daily 11am–10pm
6 Sanshū Isui-en 0742/25-0781. Tororo isn't everyone's cup of tea, but this is an attractive place to find out, located in an old wooden house overlooking the secluded, Meiji-era Isui-en garden. There are just two meals on the menu: plain mugi tororo (¥1200) or unagi tororo laced with eels (¥2500). Opening time: Daily except Tues 11.30am–1.30pm
7 Sushi-tsune Konishi-dōri 0742/22-2310 Tastefully decorated sushi bar in a traditional building opposite Vivre department store. They do a good-value lunchtime teishoku for around ¥1200, as well as chirashi (a box of rice topped with sashimi and vegetables), or individual pieces of sushi. (from ¥350). Opening time: Daily 11am–10pm
8 Tempura Asuka 1 Shonami-chō 0742/26-4308 A sleek tempura restaurant in the attractive Nara-machi district. At lunchtime you can feast on their beautifully presented bentō (¥1575). Opening time: Menus from around ¥2000 Opening time: Closed Mon
9 Tochi 15-3 Kasagi-cho 0742/27-2600 www.to-chi.com Elegant Chinese restaurant in a beautiful old house in Nara-machi. Set menu only. Reservations are essential.Price: Lunch from ¥6000 and dinner from ¥8000
10 Tsukihi-tei 2F Nara-ken Keizai Kurabu Biru, Higashimuki-dōri 0742/23-5470 This is one of the best places to sample Nara kaiseki at an affordable price. A full kaiseki course starts at ¥6000, with mini-kaiseki from ¥3990; reservations are required if you'd like your own tatami dining room. They also do cheaper teishoku at lunchtime from ¥1050. If you have time, you could try another branch deep in the forest behind Kasuga Taisha, which is worth making a trip to for its tranquil location; however, it is more expensive, with prices starting at ¥10,000 ( 0742/26-2021).
11 Uma no me 1158 Takabatake-cho 0742/23-7784 On the north side of Ara-ike pond, this rustic old house serves hearty home-style cooking, with lunch sets from ¥3500. Dinner courses are ¥8000–13,000 and must be reserved in advance.
12 Yamazakiya 5 Higashimuki-minami-machi 0742/27-3715 Pleasantly relaxed restaurant behind a large pickle shop at the south end of the arcade. They offer seasonal "yamazaki-zen" sets, including nara-zuke from ¥3990, and the excellent-value Nara bentō (¥1400). Price: Closed Mon