Visit Nara

This new facility centered around the Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara main store brings together Nara's craft heritage and contemporary design in the heart of Naramachi. Founded in 1716, this long-established shop has carried on manufacturing hemp cloth using traditional methods. The complex which opened in 2021 includes an exhibition space drawing on items from the company archives, workshops and weaving tools, the brand's flagship store, a coworking space, Salon Naramachi tea salon, Sarutahiko Coffee, and Kitsune, a sukiyaki restaurant. The name of the building comes from the deer (shika) emblem of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, the monkey (saru) of Sarutahiko Coffee, and the fox (kitsune) of Kitsune restaurant. Together, they represent learning from the past and continuing to evolve. The new complex is part of an initiative to revitalize Nara, and will serve as a base for urban development via supporting small businesses in the area.