After feeding the deer, be sure to try the uniquely textured "kuzu cuisine" in the ancient capital of Nara.

▲ Kuzu mochi (top left), kuzu noodles (top right), seasonal kuzu cake (bottom left), and kuzu cream cheese (bottom right) (Photo / Screenshot fromthe official website of Kurokawa Honke, the same below)

Reporter Chen Manqing / Comprehensive report

When visiting Nara, besides the renowned Buddha pudding, kamameshi, and azuki bean manjū, there's a 400-year-old shop called"Kurokawa Honke"that is famous for its kuzu cuisine.It's a must-try for anyone interested in traditional Japanese dishes and sweets.

▲ The exterior of Kurokawa Honke’s main store has a classic, timeless charm.

The ingredient "kuzu powder" is rarely discussed. According to the Kurokawa Honke official website, it has a unique flavor, viscosity, and translucency. Since the early Edo period (1615 AD), kuzu cuisine, originally a court delicacy, was beloved by Emperor Meiji and later celebrated in a waka poem by the great Japanese writer Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.


▲ Yoshino honkuzu is the core ingredient in Kurokawa Honke’s dishes.

"Kurokawa Honke" makes full use of the flavor and texture of kuzu powder, presenting it in a variety of dishes. For example, the shop offers special kuzu-thickened rice.<饭、葛入料特制生意大利面、葛鲜奶酪、季节风味葛蛋糕、葛粉条以及葛饼。网络上似乎有不错的评价。

If your Nara itinerary is wrapping up, why not stop by this unique kuzu cuisine shop to add a refreshing twist to your day?


Kurokawa Honke

Main Store
Address: 1921 Kamishindo, Udano, Uda, Nara
Business Hours: 11:00–20:00 (Last order 19:00)

Todaiji Store
Address: 16 Kasuganocho, Nara, Nara (inside Dream Square in Nara Park)
Business Hours: 11:00–20:00 (Last order 19:00)