I really love this building and its location. Plus 0.2 points. It's surrounded by a flowing stream and trees. The matcha latte is 600 yen. Oh, the Asahi bottled beer at 550 yen seems cheap in comparison... I visited on a Monday during the fall colors, and for foreign tourists, the day of the week doesn’t matter, right? The bus was packed. There are also standard menu items like coffee and ice cream, but wouldn’t something like amazake for 600 yen, Kaseda wild rice cake for 650 yen, tea house dango for 750 yen, matcha for 800 yen with a wagashi included, or red bean zenzai for 850 yen be a better fit with this thatched roof? Just a feeling. It's a 3-minute walk from the Kasuga-taisha Shrine bus stop, so it's also a nice spot to stop by on your way back from visiting the shrine.

The shrimp tempura udon was delicious, but since all the indoor seats were taken, we had to eat on the terrace. While we were eating, a deer came up and drank the water my senior had, and then stuck its head into the bowl to eat the udon. It even ate the wet napkin and the receipt! I recommend sitting indoors to avoid having your food stolen by deer. A lot of tourists gathered around and watched us, but it was a fun experience to have such an unusual encounter. We parked at a nearby parking lot for ¥1500.

The thatched-roof building creates a fantastic atmosphere that enhances the experience of sightseeing in the ancient city of Nara. I ordered udon, and while I prepared some self-service tea, my udon was ready in no time! So fast! The staff was very friendly, and the taste was good. This location is perfect for a break while visiting Todai-ji, Wakakusa Mountain, and Kasuga-taisha Shrine. Highly recommended!

Tea house in a tourist area. The matcha did not taste very fresh, and the sweets were just average. I wouldn't go again.

In Nara City, Nara Prefecture, I discovered Mizutani Chaya, a thatched-roof teahouse nestled under beautiful green trees as I descended the stairs from Wakakusa Mountain. Enjoying udon while taking in the stunning contrast of the blue fresh leaves and a red bridge was a delightful experience! Sharing a late lunch with the friendly deer is a unique charm of Nara. Everyone around me seemed to be getting playfully approached by the adorable deer! -------- Store Information -------- ◾︎ Name: Mizutani Chaya ◾︎ Address: 30 Kasuganomachi, Nara City, Nara Prefecture ◾︎ Hours: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM ◾︎ Phone: 0742-22-0627 ◾︎ Instagram: @mizuyachaya #MizutaniChaya #AncientCapitalNara #NaraCuisine #NaraFoodTour #NaramachiFoodTour #NaraLunch #KasugaTaisha #WakakusaMountain #Todai-ji #NaraPark #NaraTourism #NaraTravel #nara #NaraDeer

After lunch at Lateras, I stopped by. The inside was nearly full, almost 99% foreign visitors. We were the only Japanese people. ■ Warabi mochi ■ Zenzai ■ Tempura udon. There were also a few deer around, so I got to interact with them. Thank you for the meal! (•́✧•̀)

If you're looking for a cozy place to enjoy beautiful autumn leaves in Nara, I recommend this spot. They serve a delicious zenzai for 800 yen (with some salted kelp on the side). The tea (sencha) and water are self-service. I went there with a small child, and they kindly provided a bowl for sharing, which felt very thoughtful.

I stopped by a teahouse near Kasuga-taisha to take a break after walking. When I ordered at the counter, I was given a board with a number, and I waited for the staff to bring my order. The staff also warned me that the nearby deer could eat anything, so I should be careful if they come close. Since it was hot, I ordered the Uji milk shaved ice for 600 yen. The appearance was slightly different from the sample, but the matcha flavor was present, and it wasn't too sweet. It had been a while since I had shaved ice, and I found it very delicious. The portion was quite large, and this time I shared it with a friend, but if I had eaten it alone, I would have gotten tired of it towards the end.

〈Comments are closed for this review〉 I was drawn in by the nice atmosphere and decided to give it a try (lol). ◆ Daifuku Anko Zenzai 800 yen - Quite tasty. It was hot and warmed me up, so that’s great. I would have been even happier if the red bean paste was homemade. ◆ Matcha Latte 500 yen - Creamy and quite nice. The whipped cream (or is it cream?) is pretty sweet. However, surprisingly, it has a more authentic taste, and I might have liked it even more than the zenzai.

The location of this cafe is absolutely amazing, nestled in the mountains, and it stands alone as a charming old house. The atmosphere is fantastic, and it's typical of Nara to see deer casually walking around. Time seems to flow slowly here. I had a matcha latte for 450 yen, which was not too bitter and had a nice sweetness to it, made by the kind elderly couple. The cup also has a traditional Japanese feel to it. Nearby, there's a red bridge, making it a great spot for photos! It’s so stylish that people might come just to take pictures. **Opening hours:** 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

At the foot of Wakakusa Mountain, there's a charming tea house with a moss-covered thatched roof. The outdoor seating creates an atmosphere that allows you to fully enjoy the experience of being in a historic city. After ordering and paying at the register, I received a wooden token. But as soon as I stepped outside, someone called out, "Number ○!" and handed me a plate of dumplings, which felt like they had been prepared in advance—quite a speedy service. The dumplings from the tea house were pretty average, so I guess the focus was more on the ambiance? I may have felt this way especially after having freshly made, soft mochi at Nakadayu afterward. I should have considered getting warabi mochi instead, factoring in my visit to Nakadayu.

I visited Mizutani Chaya, a sweet shop located in Nara Park. It’s situated to the east of Todai-ji Temple, up the hill in front of Mizutani Shrine. After a 15-year hiatus, I walked all the way to the top of Wakakusa Mountain, and after coming down, I stopped by Mizutani Chaya for a break. I ordered a set of matcha and yokan (sweet red bean jelly). It was served within a few minutes. The sweetness of the yokan was delightful, and oh — sweet treats really help with physical fatigue! The matcha had a mild bitterness and was served at a lower temperature, making it very easy to drink. However, the matcha’s aroma was rich and pleasant. This was my first experience with something like this, and it was delicious. I felt refreshed and thoroughly enjoyed my break! Thank you for the lovely experience!

I visited the Kasuga-taisha Shrine and the Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple, and took a break at a tea shop nearby. If you head along the path just north of the National Treasure Hall of the Kasuga Shrine and go right, you'll find a charming tea shop that looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale, surrounded by roaming deer. There were people sitting outside on mats, but as there were seats available inside, I decided to relax indoors! There were counter seats arranged around a traditional irori (sunken hearth) as well. I ordered zenzai (sweet red bean soup) for 800 yen and my daughter got the tea shop dango (rice dumplings) for 550 yen. The warm, sweet zenzai was just what my tired body needed. It even came with some salted kelp! The tea shop dango included two types: grass dango and white dango, both generously covered in sweet soybean flour, and they looked delicious. The atmosphere was very relaxing, making it a great place to unwind. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

After enjoying a delicious hamburger, I visited Kasuga-taisha for the first time in a while! The lush greenery along the Kasuga-taisha approach was stunning, even though it was a muggy day in mid-September. Thankfully, there was a nice breeze in the shade of the trees that made it quite comfortable. After my visit, I headed to Mizutani Shrine, famous for being a deity that wards off diseases and illnesses. I prayed for the end of COVID-19! I had walked quite a bit by then and realized I had made it down to the foot of Wakakusa Mountain! Feeling thirsty and wanting to take a break, I was delighted to spot "Mizuyachaya" (水谷茶屋)! The thatched roof of the tea house blended beautifully with the surrounding scenery, creating a lovely atmosphere. Although there were seats inside, my friends insisted on enjoying our treats on the outer bench. Here’s what we ordered: - Shaved ice (milk flavor) - 550 yen (my order) - Beer - 400 yen (for my friend) **Shaved Ice (Milk Flavor)** I was worried it might be one of those icy, hard types of shaved ice, but surprisingly, it was light and fluffy, which was a relief! After quickly taking some photos, I eagerly started eating. "Wow, that’s sweet!" The syrup was definitely all milk, but they had gone a bit overboard with it. It was drenched in sweetened condensed milk all the way to the middle! Even after mixing it all up, it was super sweet! I struggled through half of it, but once it started melting into a puddle, I couldn't handle the sweetness anymore. I ended up drinking about a third of what was left but finally had to concede defeat! After enjoying the cold shaved ice and listening to the soothing sounds of the Yoshiki River flowing behind the shop, I felt completely refreshed! I wished I could linger a bit longer, but the mosquitoes were relentless, and I couldn’t take the itching anymore! "I give up! Let’s go!" I said, dragging my reluctant friends away from the shop. Thank you for the delicious treat! After this, we headed back through Nara Park toward Sarusawa Pond. I wanted to stop by one more place that opened at 5 PM, but since we had an hour and 15 minutes to kill, we decided to spend some time at the perfect spot, Starbucks!

We left home early in the morning to enjoy a day of sightseeing at Nara Park, taking advantage of the quiet early hours. Nara Park is quite large, so this time we visited Kofuku-ji, Himuro Shrine, Todai-ji, Tamukeyama Hachiman Shrine, Mizutani Shrine, and Kasuga-taisha. As the name suggests, Mizutani Shrine is located nearby, but this route alone requires about 2 to 3 hours of walking. We started at Kofuku-ji around 8 AM, taking our time and stopping to take photos, and we finally arrived at a tea house around 1 PM. Even though it was lunchtime, we craved something sweet and decided to share shiratama zenzai (sweet red bean soup with rice dumplings) and matcha dango (green tea dumplings). They were incredibly delicious, probably because we were in the mood for sweets, and the dried kelp served as an accompaniment was delightful as well. The tea house had about 20 seats, but it was always full, so we had to wait about 30 minutes to get in. Since it was late in the autumn foliage season, there were a lot of fallen leaves, creating a lovely atmosphere at the tea house.

I happened to find a place and enjoyed some zenzai (sweet red bean soup). Since there was space available, I took my time to savor it inside along with some matcha tea. There was a young staff member working there who was surprisingly fluent in English! Truly a remarkable dining spot in a tourist area!

It's in a great location. The tourist vibe is up! Alright, let's go for a walk!

The atmosphere was very nice, but I didn't quite like the zenzai because it was a bit too firm for my taste. The brown sugar soybean flour was also too sweet, and I couldn't finish it all.