Japan Guide
Nara
Nara-machi
The southern district of central Nara is known as Nara-machi. There are no great temples here, but instead a quaint area of traditional shops and lattice-front houses off the main tourist path and well worth exploring. The best approach is to start by the southwest corner of willow-fringed Sarusawa-ike, a good spot for views of the Five-Storey Pagoda, and then head south. At the end of the road is an enticing little shop, Kikuoka Kampō Yakkyoku (Tues– Sun 9am–7pm; 
0742/22-6611), selling all sorts of traditional Chinese medicines and, next door, Nara-machi Monogatari-kan (daily 10am–5pm; free; 0742/26-3476), which shows changing exhibitions of local crafts. Turn right (west) in front of these two and you'll find Nara-machi Shiryōkan (Tues– Sun 10am–4pm; free; 0742/22-5509), on the next corner. Marked by strings of red-cloth monkeys hanging outside (good-luck charms), this small museum occupies the former warehouse of a mosquito-net manufacturer and houses a wonderful jumble of household utensils, shop signboards, Buddhist statues, pots and so forth from the local area.