Tanaka Nara Honten

You cannot talk about food in Nara without Kaki-no-Ha Zushi. Nara prefecture doesn’t have a coast and fish was very rare. People use to preserve fish in salt and brought into Nara. Saba (Mackerel) Sushi is rice with a slice of mackerel on top wrapped with persimmon leaf moulded in wooden box and heavy stone on top.

It used to be a special food for special occasions like Weddings or festivals. Persimmon leaf has Vitamin C and is very good to preserve food from drying and getting rotten. It is their ancestors’ wisdom to keep food as fresh as possible.

The best place to try on this Kaki-no-Ha Zushi is Tanaka. They are branches all over Japan. The main shop is in the middle of Nara city. The shop is pretty and it looks like a gift shop. There is a café where you can eat in. Besides Kaki-no-Ha Zushi you can try other beautiful sushi collection of Tanaka. The best place to stop by for lunch or a break.