[2025 Nara Restaurant] Travel Guide for Nakatanidou (Updated Apr)

Visitors of Nara must not miss the Nakatanidou mochi as it is certainly a precious intangible heritage of Nara. When I was heading out for dinner in the evening, I passed by Nakatanidou, when the store was packing up the last few mochi’s that were left over from the day. I snatched what was there, and ate it before having my dinner. After dinner, I passed by the store on the way back to the guesthouse. At that hour, the chef was cleaning the tools, utensils and the kitchen. There was just one box of mochi’s left. I snatched that box as well. The chewy texture of the mochi comes from the repeated motion of rapidly pounding the glutinous rice dough, which serves as the wrapping for this wonderful morsel. At Nakatanidou, the mochi pounding is a world record. Nakatanidou holds the Guiness record for the speed of pounding the steamed glutinous rice. There is amazing theatrics involved in the pounding of the steamed glutinous rice cake. The workers work in perfect synchrony with the pounding of a wooden mallet upon the dough to turn up a pillowy but stretchy mochi. The process of making mochi is called mochitsuki. Needless to say, the fact that I went back a second time to snatch the last box of the day shows just how good these mochi’s are. The sensation of eating the Nakatanidou mochi is one of unlikely opposites. When I put the mochi into my mouth, the first expectation was that the glutinous rice cake would melt away. Its softness indicates so. Yet not so soon. I tasted the red bean paste inside and the whole piece became fluffy and chewy at the same time. It could have been heaven in your mouth, yes, as in having clouds squished between your tongue and the roof of your palate. Before serving these mochi’s, a layer of yomogi is sprinkled. Yomogi is Japanese mugwort, which gives “the treat a subtle earthy and herbal taste.” #nara #nakatanido #mochi #japanesefood #foodie #redbean #glutinousricecake #ricecake #japaneseculture #localfood

#newyearnewtrip No day trip to Nara would be complete without a visit to Nakatanidou, a famous Japanese confectionary shop renowned for some of the best fresh mochi you can find. Located in the heart of Nara, Nakatanidou has been a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike, offering melt-in-your-mouth mochi that is nothing short of a must-try. One of the shop’s highlights is the mochi-pounding show, which takes place in the morning and runs until early afternoon. Watching the skilled craftsmen pound the rice to create the perfect chewy, stretchy mochi is a captivating experience, and it’s a treat to see the process up close. If you’re able to catch the show, it adds an extra layer of authenticity to your visit. Even if you miss the mochi-pounding show, don’t worry – Nakatanidou’s mochi is still worth the trip. The mochi is incredibly affordable and delicious, with a soft, stretchy texture that makes it incredibly satisfying to eat. The generous filling of sweet red bean paste inside each piece is the perfect complement to the chewy exterior. As you watch, you can see the staff handcrafting the mochi, rolling it by hand and packing it neatly into containers for customers, offering a glimpse into the care and craftsmanship that goes into each piece. The queue at Nakatanidou can get long, especially during peak hours, but don’t let that deter you – it moves quickly, so you won’t have to wait long for your fresh mochi. Whether you're in Nara for the mochi-pounding show or simply to indulge in some of the freshest mochi around, Nakatanidou is a spot you can’t miss.

Nakatanido is a popular Nara shop famous for its impressive high-speed mochi pounding and delicious mugwort mochi. The craftsmanship unfolding before your eyes is overwhelming! The rhythmic mochi pounding performance is also very popular with tourists. The mugwort mochi made by craftsmen is fluffy and chewy. The subtle scent of mugwort and the sweetness of the bean paste are exquisite. It's great as a souvenir, but the freshly made mochi is also exceptional. It's recommended to visit after strolling around Nara Park or sightseeing at Todaiji Temple. 📍Nakanado 📮29 Hashimoto-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 🚃About 5 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station #Nakanado #Mugwort mochi #Nara sightseeing #Nara trip #Nara #Nara gourmet #Craftsmanship #Mochi pounding #0 yen trip January 2025

#asiatrip Visiting Nakatanidou in Nara was such a fun and delicious experience! This famous mochi shop is located just a short walk from the bustling streets of Nara, and it’s impossible to miss with its lively atmosphere. Watching the staff expertly pound the mochi with lightning speed was mesmerizing—an experience in itself! The warm, freshly made mochi was incredibly soft, with the perfect sweetness that melted in my mouth. The matcha and red bean flavors were a must-try. It’s a cozy and welcoming spot that’s perfect for a quick snack while exploring the beautiful town of Nara. Definitely a must-visit for all mochi lovers!

#0yentravelNovember 📍Nakanado A famous shop in Nara where you can eat freshly pounded mochi The freshly pounded mugwort mochi is very chewy and delicious, and the bean paste inside is just the right amount of sweet. You can also watch the mochi being pounded through the glass, which is very impressive! It's recommended for eating while walking around as you can easily buy one for 180 yen◎ This is a shop you can't miss when traveling to Nara Please visit🫧 ―――――――――――――――――― 📮29 Hashimoto-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture 630-8217 💰From 180 yen 🕚10:00-18:00 ――――――――――――――――――――

Mugwort mochi from Nakatanido, a long-established shop located within a 5-minute walk from Nara Park! The mochi has a chewy texture I've never had before! It's really delicious! I recommend you all to stop by.

I saw it being talked about on social media, and I definitely wanted to try it when I went to Nara, so I went to "Nakanido"!!! I went there around lunchtime on a weekday, and there were people around me eating it, but there was no one in line, so I was able to buy it right away!!! The freshly made mugwort mochi sprinkled with kinako was fluffy and so soft that I didn't even think I had to chew it...!!! It was so delicious!!! It had bean paste inside, but it was just the right amount of sweet, so I finished it in an instant🤤 It was so delicious that I could see why it was so popular, so if you go to Nara, I recommend you try it!!! ---- 📍Access 👣About 3 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station Exit 2 or 3 🍡Price Mugwort mochi 180 yen ※Payment is cash only⚠️ ※You can eat it on the spot or take it out! 🕰️Business hours 10:00-19:00 *Irregular holidays ---- #Travel with me #Nakatani-do #Nara gourmet #Nara sightseeing #Naramachi #Nara #Yomogi mochi

#naratrip Never ever I have imagine to visit this place! I always watched the man in action shouting Haik-haik-haik during the Mochi making demonstration. Very fascinating and to my surprise, the mochi is so tender and springy! Also..the mochi is warm! 😍 There are allocated time for the mochi making demonstration, if not mistaken its about 20mins every interval in the morning. Do come by earlier to stand in front to capture clearer video!

#2024wish You MUST come here if you travel to NARA🍡💫 Nakatanidou (中谷堂) has gained its name when they joined a famous Japanese TV championship program playing the mochi demonstration where the owner will beat on the mochi in a very high speed while the other one will be using a big hammer to do the same at the same time!! Ever since then, they are having the demonstrations daily in their shop and it has attracted a lot of foreign tourists to shot the video until the extend the staffs will need to stand by the street to ensure the traffic is okay!! When we visited there, the police car even patrolled the place to make sure it does not affect the car drivers. After the demonstration, remember to buy the fresh mochi as well at JPY 180 and you will be impressed with its taste and texture. They do sell it in a box (prepared earlier) too if you would like to buy some home but making comparison with the fresh 1, there is still same differences. 😅 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In 2024, I wish to travel to Perth!!

#fallishere Nakatanidou is a famous handmade mochi shop with a long history and this snack shop is located just a short walk from Nara Park. You will see a crowd gathering right outside the store as there will be a mochi pounding demonstration that happens every 30 minutes or whenever there is a large tourist group. All their mochi is freshly made and every mochi skin is thin with a chewy texture and stuffed with lots of sweet Japanese sweet bean. The outside of the mochi is coated with soy bean powder. Overall, a great snack that is not overly filling and for 180 yen each, it is super reasonably priced. Grab a box and eat it on the go! Nakatanidou has the best handmade mochi!