Nara City Higashimuki Shopping Street | Review by Linda Liao

奈良公園裡的鹿群實在太萌了！才剛走進公園，就能看到一隻隻梅花鹿悠閒地散步、席地休息，甚至大搖大擺地穿梭在人群之間，完全不怕生。日本有個流傳已久的傳說，鹿是神明派駐在人間的使者，尤其在奈良，鹿更被視為神聖的存在，因此一直受到人們的尊重與保護。

來到這裡當然不能錯過餵鹿。公園周邊到處都有小販販售「鹿仙貝」，這是專門給鹿吃的仙貝，主要由米糠、小麥粉等穀物製成，幾乎沒有什麼味道。可是對鹿兒來說，這可是超級美食！只要手上拿著仙貝，馬上就會有幾隻鹿靠過來，甚至一轉眼就被包圍。

餵食時千萬不要追著鹿跑，要保持冷靜，一片一片慢慢餵。吃完後記得把雙手攤開，讓牠們知道「沒有了」。仙貝最好舉高一點，不然鹿兒一興奮，口水很容易沾得滿手都是，衣服也難逃一劫，甚至可能被牠們輕咬幾口，真的又可愛又狼狽！最有趣的就是鹿兒會鞠躬，向牠們敬禮牠們也會回應你喔〜

不過畢竟動物還是有野性，有小朋友同行的話，記得不要讓小朋友太靠近避免受傷，才能玩得開心又安心。

Naramachi is one of Japan's few well-preserved historic districts. It has a long history and was once a thriving commercial and residential community around the temples. Walking through Naramachi, you can really feel the traditional Japanese atmosphere. Many old machiya townhouses remain along the streets, and their long, narrow layouts reflect how people lived in the past.

I recommend visiting Naramachi Koshi-no-Ie while you're here. This building preserves the features of a traditional machiya, and spaces such as the lattice entrance, courtyard, and wooden corridors offer a glimpse into life in a Japanese home in the past. The interior is simple and elegant, with sunlight streaming through the lattice windows. Together with the wooden structure and garden views, it creates a quiet, nostalgic atmosphere. It's a great place both for appreciating traditional architecture and taking Instagram-worthy photos〜

When visiting Nara, besides seeing the deer and visiting Todai-ji Temple, Nakatanido's mugwort mochi is another classic snack that I think you have to try!

The soft, chewy mugwort mochi is filled with sweet, rich red bean paste made from Tokachi red beans from Hokkaido. The subtle fragrance of mugwort pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the red beans. It's sweet without being too rich, with plenty of texture. The freshly made mochi is especially soft with a slight chewiness, and is worth trying for yourself.

Every time I pass Nakatanido, I'm drawn to the lively, suspenseful “mochi-pounding show” outside the shop. The two masters work in perfect coordination: one calls out loudly, while the other quickly turns the mugwort mochi in the mortar during the brief pauses, immediately followed by another fast, precise strike. Their movements are perfectly synchronized and fluid, making it impossible to look away. You can't help but wonder, “At that speed, aren't they afraid of hitting his hand?”

This is also a successful sales strategy for the shop. After all, once people watch the performance, they naturally want to buy a piece of freshly made mochi to try!