Visit Nara

This is the place that started the trend for lifestyle cafes. While the space looks chic and contemporary with white walls and carelessly perfect arrangements of objects, it’s actually over 30 years old. The space has expanded to include a small fashion boutique and a homeware shop with kitchen goods and gifts from Nara to Portland. The meals are simple and generous, and almost vegetarian. The rustic cakes are very popular and take out is available. Parts of the complex are narrow and have steps, so it is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Although Kuruminoki seems to be in the middle of nowhere, it is popular with fashionable young women from all over Japan, and it will often take time to be seated, though the waiting area is comfortable, with art books and magazines to browse.