Touch! Walk! Eat! Enjoy Nara’s traditions with your five senses

Nara is full of historic buildings. In May, Toshodaiji Temple which is one of the world heritages will hold a traditional event, so you can enjoy a different atmosphere from usual. By the way, it’s good temperature for sightseeing spot-hopping in Nara now. Why not feel Nara’s history by walking along the oldest street in Japan while soaking in the sun? Don’t forget to eat traditional cuisines of Nara in addition to see and feel the history!

This time, we’re going to introduce an event held around Hotel Fujita Nara and our recommended spots.

“Fan Throwing Festival” where you can get a heart-shaped fan to chase away bad luck and invite good luck

“Fan Throwing Festival” is held at Toshodaiji Temple, a world heritage, on 19th May every year. It is said that this festival began as a festival to cherish the memory of Kakujo (the temple founder)’s great achievements. The fans originated with his enforcement of the Buddhist precept of non-harming, urging his disciples to use such fans to keep mosquitoes away. So, on the festival day ‘Fan Throwing (Uchiwamaki)’ is taken place as well as a memorial service and Bugaku (traditional Japanese dance). Buddhist monks cast heart-shaped fans, which are believed to have spiritual power to get rid of evil spirits. Only 400 people getting a participation ticket which starts to be distributed from 9:00 AM, can participate in this fan throwing event. Why don’t you try it?

Period	19th May, 2019　It starts at 1:00PM.
Venue	Toshodaiji Temple (13-46 Gojo-machi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture)
Access	Close to Toshodaiji Temple bus stop which is a 17-min bus ride from JR station
URL	https://www.visitnara.jp/venues/E02039/

“Yamanobe-no-Michi” where many ancients made poems

“Yamanobe-no-Michi” is Japan’s oldest street. There are Sakurai course starting from JR Sakurai station and Tenri course starting from JR Yanagimoto station, and which allow you to see different scenery and historical sites. Sakurai course has the place called ‘Tsubaichi’ where many love poems were made, one of the oldest shrine in Japan ‘Omiwa Shrine’ and so on. Along Tenri course, there are a large burial mound and old shrines, historical ruins and something like that. It’s also the street that Hitomaro Kakinomoto, a famous poet, once walked on, and the poem expressing his feelings at that time is appeared in Manyoshu.

Access	Yanagimoto station: 21 mins by the Sakurai line from JR Nara station. Sakurai station: 30 mins by the Sakurai line from JR Nara station.
URL	https://www.visitnara.jp/destinations/destination/yamanobe-no-michi/

“Ajitei Yamazakiya” offering Chagayu with a mild taste and rich flavor

Have you ever eaten Nara’s traditional cuisine ‘Chagayu (tea gruel)’? It’s a simple home-cooked meal that has been eaten for about 1,300 years in Nara. There are many restaurants offering Chagayu in Nara, and tea and seasoning used vary depending on restaurants. Among them, Chagayu of “Ajitei Yamazakiya” made with Hojicha (roasted green tea) is our recommended. It features a smooth texture. The side dishes using seasonal ingredients and seasoned to go well with Chagayu are also exquisite.

Opening Hours	11:15AM – 9:00PM　Closed on Monday (if a public holiday or a period of an event, it is opened)
Address	5 Higashimuki Minami-machi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access	A 6-min walk from the hotel
URL	http://ajiyama.com/