Where to buy (central city)
Higashimuki Shopping Street
a covered shopping arcade of about 250m stretching south from Kintetsu Nara Station, where many souvenir shops as well as restaurants can be found
Yamazaki-ya
A well-known purveyor of narazuke
Mochiidono Shopping Street
nother covered arcade further into south, connecting from Higashimuki Shopping Street, is the main street leading to the center of Naramachi.
Sanjō-dōri Avenue
most shops are located within the apporx. 800m zone, between JR Nara Station and sounth end of Higashimuki Shopping Street, of this Avenue. Many souvenir shops, traditional writing brush fude,筆 and ink sumi,墨 stores, narazuke stores as well as various bars and restaurants are located on this avenue. Most of the major banks are found on this Avenue, too.
Nara Family
One of the largest shopping malls in Kansai.
what to buy
Narazuke 奈良漬. A local specialty pickle made of various vegetables and fruit, traditionally melon cucumber 瓜 uri. The distinctive strong flavor comes from the use of sakekasu, the sediment of sake fermentation, and the pickle also has some residual alcohol. Shops are found on any of the shopping areas listed below.
Handmade writing brushes fude,筆 and ink sumi,墨. Nara is famous for its calligraphy brushes called Narafude 奈良筆, which are available in the specialist stores on Sanjō-dōri Avenue. However, as these brushes are made with a special kind of animal hair, they are expensive and rare, and customers will need to make a specific request for them. Other brushes sold in the specialist stores will be less expensive than Narafude, but still generally of reputable quality.
Nara Sarashi 奈良晒, or Nara fabrics, is another traditionally artisanal product of Nara. Originally made of boehmeria variation plants in the older ages, cotton has become the major material since Edo Period, mainly due to availability and cost. Towels, handkerchiefs, blankets, blinds and many other cloth material products can be found in stores located on Mochiidono Shopping street or in Naramachi area.