Back to Nara

Feeding deer in Nara may well become our standard visitor activity. We haven't done a very good job of branching out and exploring other parts of Nara (and I understand its worth it) but we just love the area around the station and the parks around the main temple. Not to mention the main temple and its woodland friends. This time, I found a new favorite stop in Nara - a shop close to the station that makes fresh mochi treats. The day we happened by the shop, they were making mattcha (green tea) mochi with ahn (sweet red bean) filling and a kinako (toasted soy bean powder) dusting. These are my three favorite parts of Japanese sweets. Getting them together in a warm, sticky, fresh lump was awesome. While a machine did most of the mochi-fying of the rice, the shop workers pulled out the nearly finished mochi and finished it off in traditional style, whacking it with large wooden mallets while folding it over on itself. A definite crowd pleaser. I didn't have a good angle for this, but Carolyn got a great picture. If she ever sends it to me, I will be sure to post it. In the meantime, you will just have to arrange a visit - we'll be sure to take you. :)