Nara specialty. Persimmon leaf sushi. I wouldn't say I particularly love it, but the fragrance of the persimmon leaf adds a delicious touch to the pressed sushi. There are various ingredients available, and this time I bought salmon, eel, and mackerel. It comes with pickled ginger and a wet towel, and they offer sets or individual items, catering to guests' requests. I think this flexibility is commendable. The taste is great too, and I would like to buy it again if I have the chance. I enjoyed it with boiled udon at home. I will definitely go back for more.

From the outskirts of Osaka to Nagoya, I decided to take the route of Namba to Kintetsu, and then board the Kintetsu Limited Express "Hinotori". Arriving at Namba station an hour early, I saw the Kintetsu Limited Express waiting on the opposite side. I bid it farewell in my mind and went upstairs to buy some food. I was surprised to find a variety of food shops, including a stall selling the famous squid grilled by Hankyu Department Store. It was amazing. My excitement rose. However, my companion seemed to be in a bad mood, prioritizing their own mood over food. I bought some Hira-mune's persimmon leaf sushi, croquettes, and minced cutlets. Finally, the shiny red train arrived. "Hinotori, Hinotori!" We were the only two passengers in this train due to the pandemic, feeling sorry for the situation. Nevertheless, it was a comfortable ride with capsule-type reclining seats, complimentary towels in the restroom, and a well-equipped drink corner. I enjoyed the persimmon leaf sushi with its perfect balance of vinegared rice and the harmony of mackerel with vinegar. I have loved it since I first tried it on a school trip in junior high. I hope this traditional Japanese food continues to captivate many people in the future.

Nara's specialty dish, persimmon leaf sushi, was purchased at Namba Station on the Kintetsu line. The box contains a total of 7 pieces, with 4 mackerel and 3 salmon sushi, priced at 1,020 yen excluding tax. The sushi rice is topped with vinegar mackerel and fatty salmon, wrapped in persimmon leaves for a refreshing flavor. The bite-sized pieces are easy to eat.

"I found something interesting here." On this day, inside the ticket gates of Namba Station in Osaka, I came across a unique type of kakinoha sushi at this shop. When it comes to kakinoha sushi, the usual toppings are mackerel, salmon, and sea bream, but what caught my eye at "Heisou" this time were the seasonal and limited edition "smoked duck," "yuzu-flavored saury," and "marinated tuna." Intrigued by their uniqueness, I decided to purchase these kakinoha sushi. Later, while traveling on the Kintetsu Limited Express, I enjoyed the sushi. First, the smoked duck was surprisingly good, as I rarely eat sushi with meat toppings, usually sticking to fish. Next, the saury had a hint of yuzu fragrance and the fatty fish was elegantly presented. Lastly, the marinated tuna had a rich flavor that I found to be different from the usual tuna sushi. These sushi toppings are not commonly seen in takeout sushi, especially the marinated tuna, so they left a lasting impression on me. Although marinated tuna needs to be refrigerated, making it less suitable for long-distance travel despite the presence of ice packs, I believe it's worth trying due to its delicious taste. I recommend everyone to give it a try.

I was asked to help with an event and decided to grab some sushi that I could eat anywhere. I visited Hiramune in Namba Station. They are famous for their kakinohazushi (sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves). I found an interesting set called "Akino Kakusuke Roku." It included mackerel kakinohazushi, sanma kakinohazushi, and shiitake inari sushi. The rice was delicious and packed full, and the set had a great seasonal feel. I was very satisfied with the meal.

Due to the impact of Typhoon No. 12 over the weekend, the 8:00 am Urban Liner bound for Nagoya is canceled. It was changed to 12:00 pm online! I passed through the ticket gates at Kintetsu Namba and bought some light snacks for the train at "Hirasou Kintetsu Namba": Eel for 162 yen, Mackerel for 130 yen, and Sweetfish with sudachi citrus for 216 yen. I bought a beer before boarding the train and was all set! Upon arriving at the Nagoya-bound platform, I was surprised to find no trains. I asked a station staff member, "Where is the train to Nagoya?" The staff member replied, "...It's not running! It's scheduled for after 3:00 pm." Even though I managed to buy a reserved seat for the 12:00 pm train, it was not running, so I had to cancel and get a refund. It's a good thing I didn't buy the beer. But now, where should I eat this persimmon leaf sushi? There were no limited express trains on the platform, only a local train bound for Nara. I decided to eat my sushi while looking at Sarusawa Pond. During the train ride, I searched on Tabelog and found a delicious-looking restaurant in Nara City. That's how the persimmon leaf sushi became a snack after lunch. The "Sweetfish with sudachi citrus" persimmon leaf sushi I ate at Sarusawa Pond was delicious!

I bought some pressed sushi with simmered conger eel and mackerel sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves at a shop inside Nankai Namba Station that I had been curious about for a while. I was planning to have them for breakfast tomorrow, but couldn't resist and had a little bit tonight. The simmered conger eel was made with domestic conger eel, it was plump and flavorful with a rich broth. The mackerel sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves had a consistently delicious taste. I would like to use this shop again for souvenirs. Today was a day of carb overload, so I'm going for a run now. Thank you for the meal!

When I went to see the cherry blossoms in Yoshino in April, I bought some Kakinoha-zushi from "Hirasou" at a shop and brought it back with me to Osaka Namba Station. I then took the Kintetsu Limited Express Urban Liner back to my home in Nagoya. The Kakinoha-zushi was said to last until the next evening, which was plenty of time. It has become a tradition for me to bring back souvenirs for my family every time I go on a business trip. It used to be mostly sweets, but recently I have been mixing in more savory items to make sure they don't get consumed too quickly. This time, the Kakinoha-zushi sold out immediately, especially since my younger daughter loves mackerel and praised the salty flavor of this particular version. Unlike regular sushi, Kakinoha-zushi doesn't have a sour taste, but rather a savory saltiness that varies depending on the maker. I don't travel as much these days, mostly just between Nagoya and Osaka, so I am researching different Osaka souvenirs to bring back. From the perspective of someone from Nagoya, Osaka and Nara are both part of the Kansai region, so Kakinoha-zushi is considered an Osaka souvenir. Thank you for the meal.

On January 23, 2016 (Sunday), I revisited "Heiso" at the Times Place inside Kintetsu Namba Station. I often stop by on my way back to Osaka and buy the classic persimmon leaf sushi as a souvenir. The persimmon leaf sushi comes in a pack of 8 for 1,329 yen, with 2 mackerel, 2 salmon, 2 red snapper, 1 eel, and 1 shrimp. When I got home, I enjoyed it with a beer. It's great that you can enjoy 5 different types of persimmon leaf sushi. Among them, my favorites are the classic mackerel and salmon. They are my go-to choices for persimmon leaf sushi. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I got hungry (;ω;) after drinking at Toyosakura and snacking on some side dishes, so I ate something (;ω;)(;ω;) I had a snack, but I still wanted to eat more! Haha, are you two stopping by? What's that? It's Anfun♡ They even have it here! Both of them are taking home strawberry cream puffs♪ I love the main store in Amerikamura＼(^o^)／ It's convenient, so I've been buying them at the Hankyu Umeda underground recently♪ I bought only 4 for snacking, but I'll pass on the review! Anfun overload! Haha. The aura from the next table looks delicious? It's persimmon leaf sushi♡ I've seen you two reviewing recently, Patan-kun and Michi-sama♡ Let's buy it! We went to another place later, so I was satisfied with the snacks, but I still want to eat more♪(*￣ω￣)v On the bus ride home♡ The vinegar is gentle, and the scent of persimmon leaves is lovely♡ I love grilled mackerel sushi♡ This is great! I was so focused on taking pictures on the unstable bus that the sushi fell apart on my lap (;ω;)(;ω;) Of course, I rescued it all from my lap and into my mouth! Haha. Full stomach♡ I fell asleep on the bus〜(p.-)(ρ.-)(p.-)(ρ.-) Sleepy sleepy

Well, feeling a bit down from drinking too much the day before, I didn't feel like eating lunch (lol). So, I decided to take it easy and head back to Nagoya on the Kintetsu train. While exploring inside the Kintetsu Namba Station, I found something that seemed like it would be easy to eat. It was small and just right for how I was feeling at the moment, so I decided to buy it! Once on the train, I felt like I could eat it so I decided to give it a try... The rice vinegar flavor seems to stand out more than the taste of the toppings. So, I couldn't really tell how the toppings tasted (lol).

This is a takeout specialty shop for persimmon leaf sushi located inside Nankai Namba Station. I happened to stop by and found some different toppings than the usual mackerel or salmon, so I couldn't resist getting them. My favorites, conger eel and sweetfish, were available. Moreover, the conger eel was "teriyaki conger eel" and the sweetfish was "sudachi sweetfish," making me dizzy with excitement. Both were priced a bit higher than mackerel or salmon, at 155 yen each plus tax. I decided to enjoy them in the car. They were identified with stickers, but it didn't mean much to my forgetful self. Well, it didn't matter much anyway since I devoured both at once (laughs). I'm always impressed by how thinly they can slice these. I'll start with the refreshing sweetfish. It seemed like there was more vinegar rice compared to a regular slice of fish. The sudachi flavor didn't leave much of an impression. The rich teriyaki conger eel, on the other hand, met my expectations in terms of taste. I had always wanted to try it, and now that I have, it's just as I expected - not bad at all.

This shop is located inside the ticket gates of Kintetsu Namba Station (Osaka-Namba Station). They also have a branch outside the gates (in front of FamilyMart), so even if you're not taking the Kintetsu train, you can still buy Hirasou's Kakinoha Sushi at Namba. Hirasou is famous for their Kakinoha Sushi, but I personally prefer this place. I always thought there was no Hirasou in Namba, so I was happy to find it. Kakinoha Sushi: Mackerel 120 yen, Salmon 150 yen, Shrimp 150 yen, Duck 155 yen, Grilled Mackerel Sushi 898 yen (all prices excluding tax). The mackerel is delicious and standard, while the salmon and shrimp have a consistent taste. I tried duck for the first time, but maybe I didn't need to get it in Kakinoha Sushi (laughs). Surprisingly, the Grilled Mackerel Sushi was delicious! It was a bit unexpected. I definitely want to buy it again. Give it a try when you come to Namba, even though it's a specialty of Nara. Rating: 3 stars.

Hiraso is a long-established shop founded in 1861 at the end of the Edo period. They offer a local dish from Yoshino called Kakinoha-zushi. This shop, located inside Namba Station on the Kintetsu line, specializes in take-out. I purchased the Yuzu-an grilled mackerel sushi for 1390 yen as a snack for my train journey. Grilled mackerel sushi is one of my favorite dishes, and I often buy it. Each shop has its own unique twist on it, which is always interesting. While many places add ginger to give a refreshing taste to the fatty mackerel, here they use yuzu peel and mustard. It adds a refreshing touch without overpowering the soft texture of the fish, making it delicious. The prices may seem a bit high, but I hope that foreign tourists can experience the artistry of Japanese cuisine like this.

Nara's famous persimmon leaf sushi is my favorite, but it's not sold in the northern part of Mie Prefecture. When I try to buy it around here, I have to go to Takashimaya in Nagoya. Today, I bought persimmon leaf sushi and grilled mackerel sushi as souvenirs from Osaka. Kansai seems to have a culture of pressed sushi. I like the slightly vinegary taste of the sushi rice. We enjoyed it with my family.

I visited "Heimune Kintetsu Namba Station" for the first time, where they were having a time sale with a 20% discount. I got a takeout of their "deluxe set" which included seared anago, vinegared bream, pickled mackerel, vinegared salmon, grilled mackerel, and seared mackerel. The sweet vinegared rice paired perfectly with the toppings, especially the three types of mackerel with just the right amount of fat. It was delicious!

Famous persimmon leaf sushi is sold as a good souvenir in many places. I bought it with the intention of having it for dinner at the hotel later. I bought it on the way back from sightseeing in Nara on a holiday evening. It was inside the ticket gate at Namba on the Kintetsu train line. They were selling the same kind in sets of 10, but I was grateful that I could buy them individually. This time, I tried salmon, eel, and mackerel, getting 5 pieces of each. They were priced around 150 yen each, with mackerel being the cheapest. I tried them as soon as I got back. They were certainly delicious, but just regular pressed sushi. I personally prefer the trout pressed sushi from station bento boxes. Maybe it's a different experience when you receive it as a souvenir.