🗺️ Higashimuki Shopping Street, Nara City

The Higashimuki Shopping Street in Nara City is located outside the east exit of Kintetsu Nara Station. It is a north-south oriented arcade-style shopping street that extends from Omiya Street to Sanjo Street. On the east side of the street is Kofuku-ji Temple, while residential houses are built on the west side, all facing east, which is why it is named "Higashimuki-cho." The shopping street provides direct access to famous tourist attractions in Nara City such as Kofuku-ji, Sarusawa Pond, and Naramachi, and Nara Park, where Todai-ji Temple is located, is also within walking distance. Therefore, it is recommended to take a stroll through the shopping street while sightseeing in Nara. Higashimuki Shopping Street has a very long history and began to develop rapidly after the opening of the Kintetsu Osaka Line, which connects Nara and Osaka, in 1915, along with the establishment of Nara Station. Now, many shops have been established on both sides of the road, including restaurants, drugstores, beauty salons, and clothing stores, with about 80 shops lined up closely together. There are also many historical shops such as wagashi (Japanese sweets) stores and tenugui (hand towel) specialty shops. In addition, there are many restaurants offering local specialties from Nara, such as chazuke (tea over rice), Yamato beef, and local sake. Pickled vegetables that have been salted and then marinated in sake lees, known as "Nara-zuke"; pressed sushi made with vinegared rice topped with slices of salmon or sea bream and wrapped in persimmon leaves, called "Kaki no Ha-zushi"; and "Mikasa-yaki," a cake-like batter flavored like Nagasaki cake filled with red bean paste, are all great places to taste local Nara cuisine.

The shopping street located right next to Kintetsu Nara Station. In the past, there were only residences on the west side, all facing east, which is how it got its name. It is very close to famous Nara attractions like Hōryū-ji, making it a convenient stop while sightseeing. Thanks to the arcade, you can shop comfortably even on rainy days. The shopping street has a good variety of shops selling local specialties such as persimmon leaf sushi (柿葉寿司) and Nara pickles (奈良漬).