🍜 Sweet Place Sakura Café

In the narrow alleys, the Edo-period townhouses and the retro-style shopping street "Naramachi" are popular walking spots in Nara City. At "Yoshino Kudzu Sakura" in Naramachi, various products made from the rare Yoshino hon-kudzu, which can only be harvested from wild kudzu roots in Yoshino Mountain, are sold, with only about 10% yield. In the café area "Sakura Café" attached to the store, you can enjoy a variety of desserts made with kudzu. All desserts are handmade only after ordering. The "Kuzukiri," served with a special black sugar dip, offers the unique smooth texture and chewiness of hon-kudzu. Another signature item, "Kuzumochi," allows you to savor its chewy and soft texture along with the natural sweetness of the kudzu root. In the summer, they also offer seasonal items like "Kuzu Shirayuki," which features shaved ice on top of hon-kuzumochi, shiratama, and homemade red bean paste. In winter, there is a thick "Kuzu Red Bean Soup" made with kudzu powder. The store, renovated from a townhouse over 160 years old, features a lush garden that creates a tranquil Japanese atmosphere. After enjoying your desserts, don't forget to browse the shop. The hon-kudzu soup comes in four flavors, including cherry blossom and matcha, making it a great choice for souvenirs due to its portability and long shelf life.

A dessert shop located in "Naramachi." You can taste desserts made from the rare Yoshino honkuzu. "Kuzukiri," "Kuzumochi," and the summer limited shaved ice are very popular. The shop is renovated from a 160-year-old machiya. The store sells souvenir products such as honkuzu soup and kuzuzukuri with red beans.