While in Nara, I made a special trip to the Nara main store of Kakinoha Sushi Tanaka to try this traditional food that is so characteristic of Nara. The most distinctive thing about kakinoha sushi is that the sushi is wrapped in persimmon leaves, giving it an old-fashioned look.
After unwrapping the persimmon leaf, you can smell a faint, fresh plant fragrance. The leaf wrapped around the sushi gives the rice and fish a natural aroma, adding a very distinctive flavor. The rice has a slightly tart taste, and together with the fish, it's refreshing and not too heavy.
Besides seeing the deer on this trip to Nara, I also came specifically to try this local food. It was really interesting to travel while learning about Nara's traditional food culture! I'd like to have it again the next time I visit Nara.
