Date visited: September 4, 2026 (Fri)
Weather: Rain
Yesterday, oysters.
Today, persimmon.
Wait, what?
Going to the Restaurant I Missed Yesterday
It was my second day in Nara.
This was a workday.
I had actually planned to go to Kakinoha-zushi Hiraso the night before.
But instead, the evening went like this:
Sake.
A bath.
Fell asleep.
My plan collapsed beautifully.
And as a result, I ended up discovering an oyster hot pot in sake-kasu broth that had never been part of the plan.
→【🍵Beauty & Taste| Nara | Drinks, a Bath… and I Fell Asleep. Then I Found an Oyster Sake-Lees Hot Pot】
But I still had one more night in Nara.
So I could simply go today.
First, a Souvenir
After work, before returning to the hotel, there was one thing I wanted to take care of.
Souvenirs for my coworkers.
The next day, I planned to leave Nara as soon as work was over.
So, rather than rushing around on the day I left, I decided to buy some sweets that would keep well in advance.
Forgetting to buy them would be a problem.
While looking around, I found that Hiraso also had a shop selling takeaway food and souvenirs.
Souvenirs: successfully purchased.
Once I got back to the hotel, I could put them straight into my luggage.
That meant I would be ready to simply check out the next day.
One job for tomorrow: done.
“You Should Make a Reservation”
While buying the souvenirs, I mentioned,
“I’m planning to have dinner at Hiraso tonight.”
The staff member told me,
“There aren’t many seats, so you should make a reservation.”
I see.
I didn’t make one.
Instead—
I’ll go early.
Yesterday, after my bath, I thought, “I’ll just rest for a moment.”
And then I fell asleep.
I wasn’t going to make the same mistake today.
Dinner first.
Bath later.
I had learned something. Haha.
To Kakinoha-zushi Hiraso Nara Main Restaurant
I arrived early, so I was able to get a seat without waiting.
Inside, I also noticed quite a few customers who seemed to be visiting from overseas.
Small pieces of sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.
It’s something I’ve known since I was young, but I found myself wondering what it looks like to someone seeing it for the first time.
Kakinoha-zushi is a traditional Nara-style pressed sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.
With that thought in mind, I took my seat.
The Evening “Tenpyo” Set
I chose the
“Tenpyo” set — ¥3,500.
When I visited, the set included:
kakinoha-zushi, nyumen noodles, sesame tofu, lotus-root dumpling, sashimi, small side dishes, and dessert.
It was a meal that let me enjoy a little of several different dishes.
But then I noticed something while looking at the menu.
Wait. There are more choices at lunchtime.
The lunch menu had a wider selection.
That was a little disappointing.
But this was a workday.
I couldn’t come at lunchtime.
Well, nothing I can do about that.
I’ll enjoy what I can eat tonight.
Of Course, the Kakinoha-zushi
There were several dishes on the table, but naturally, what interested me most was the
kakinoha-zushi.
I opened the persimmon leaf and took a bite.
The flavors were clear and distinct.
And yet, somehow, it felt simple and unpretentious.
Delicious.
But—
it doesn’t shout, “Look at me!”
It doesn’t come at you with anything flashy.
Instead, it slowly stays with you as you eat.
It felt a little like the atmosphere I had noticed while walking around Nara.
YUMEVOJA Food Radar
Hiraso Nara Main Restaurant — “Tenpyo” ¥3,500
Sweetness: ★☆☆☆☆
Saltiness: ★★☆☆☆
Dashi: ★★★★☆
Oiliness: ☆☆☆☆☆
Spiciness: ☆☆☆☆☆
Aroma: ★☆☆☆☆
Portion size: Average
Ease of visiting: ★★★★☆
【YUMEVOJA Satisfaction】
★★★★☆ Satisfied
This is my personal impression, including the food, atmosphere, and people.
📍 For the latest opening hours, closing days, crowd levels, menu details, and prices, please check Google Maps and the official website.
Information may change.
📍 Google Maps 👇
Hiraso Nara Main Restaurant
🌐 Official website 👇
Kakinoha-zushi Hiraso Nara Main Restaurant
Wait…
I finished my meal.
It was delicious.
I was satisfied.
But—
Wait.
There still seemed to be some room left in my stomach.
The night before, I had eaten an oyster hot pot in sake-kasu broth.
Then came the cheese risotto to finish.
The food fighter with a sensitive tongue had been battling closing time.
Tonight—
the food fighter was nowhere to be seen.
A peaceful evening.
Maybe this is what a normal dinner is supposed to feel like. Haha.
Oysters Yesterday, Persimmon Today
The day before:
kaki — oysters.
Today:
kaki — persimmon.
In Japanese, they are written with different kanji.
But both are pronounced kaki.
And—
I love them both.
I didn’t plan it this way.
…Probably.
Oysters I found when my original plan fell apart.
Persimmon leaves the next day, when I finally returned to the original plan.
By pure coincidence, my two nights in Nara became a tale of two kaki.
My Three-Day Journey in Nara
This trip to Nara was a three-day stay, adding one extra day of travel to a business trip.
I walked through rainy Nara Park, met the Great Buddha at Todaiji once again, and wandered through Naramachi.
Staying overnight also introduced me to a side of Nara I might not have found on a day trip.
Here are the first and second parts of my Nara journey.
→【🚉Stopover Journey|Solo Trip to Nara – Part 1 | Meeting the Great Buddha Again】
→【🚉Stopover Journey|Solo Trip to Nara – Part 2 | Beyond the Great Buddha and Deer】
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