Visit Nara

Starting as a hemp fabric maker for the Tokugawa shogunate in 1716, Yu Nakagawa has just celebrated its 300th anniversary. The current company president, the 13th generation of this family company, has updated the company’s image and expanded to offer traditional crafts with a modern sensibility.

The store in a restored machiya building includes a stylish cafe and a traditional fabric loom, which you can learn to use by prior reservation. The unique Nara crafts, from fabrics to wooden carvings in contemporary designs, make perfect souvenirs.