📜 Restaurant Details
The owners, the Kato couple, fell in love with the land of Asuka Village and moved here from another prefecture, starting their café "café Kotodama (ことだま)" in 2006. In 2015, they relocated to their current site, and over the years, they have gained a loyal following from fans both inside and outside Nara Prefecture.
The café is located on the Machiya Street near the village office, and the owners personally transformed a 200-year-old sake brewery building into the café, taking two months to complete the renovation. The interior is filled with the warm charm typical of old residences, making it feel familiar even for first-time visitors.
The café offers a variety of dishes made by the Kato couple themselves. The most popular item is the "Kotodama Lunch," featuring local ingredients primarily sourced from Asuka Village's vegetables. The couple hopes to convey a sense of the seasons through their food, so the menu changes every two weeks, allowing guests to enjoy seasonal ingredients at their peak.
There is also a small gallery in one corner of the café, showcasing crafts and goods created by local artists. The diverse array of unique handmade items makes it hard to resist taking some home as souvenirs.
