For one week only, a tour of Japan’s tastes comes to Saidaiji in Nara. Kintetsu Department Store Nara holds the 5th “Ninki no Aji Meguri” (a fair of popular flavors) from Wednesday, October 21 to Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in its 3rd-floor event hall. Newcomer Japanese and Western confectionery brands, carefully made treats, and limited daily specialties from around the country come together under one roof.
First-time exhibitors: a historic Shiga cracker maker and a cheesecake from six sake breweries
The big draw this time is the number of brands appearing for the first time. Two from Shiga should catch the eye of Kansai readers.
The first is the rice-cracker shop 中西永生堂, which reaches its 100th year in 2026. It began in the early Meiji era as a brown-rice wholesaler handling Omi rice, and was founded in March 1926 (Taisho 15). For its crackers it uses Shiga-grown “Shiga Habutae Mochi,” said to be the finest glutinous rice, along with glutinous rice from Saga Prefecture, polishing the grain just before pounding to keep it fresh. The assorted bite-size okaki (small) set has 6 bags for ¥1,080.
The second is “Koto no Kuni Nama Cheesecake” (Lake Country Fresh Cheesecake) from Kobo Shushu. It uses the sake and sake lees of six Shiga breweries (Matsu no Tsukasa, Shichihonyari, Kirakucho, Hagi no Tsuyu, Namino-on and Mifuku), one for each flavor. A mild cream cheese lets the fruity aroma of the sake lees and each brewery’s own richness and sweetness stand out. The six types come in real ceramic sake cups, at ¥638 each.
You can start the fun by choosing which brewery’s cup to take home, and a mixed set would make a good gift.
Other first-timers include “AMILY,” a sweets brand by Arishan of the group Herahera Sanjushi and the cook 杉山絵美: its “Cheerful Chocolate Chip Fresh Cookie Assortment” (2 kinds, 4 pieces) is ¥2,160. From Sugamo in Tokyo, Togenuki Fukujuan’s “Sugamo Tokutoku Daifuku Set” of salted-bean daifuku is ¥2,140 per box. From Ehime, the long-established Yamadaya Manju brings “Anri,” an autumn-only treat made with Kumamoto chestnuts (3 pieces, ¥918).
Gift-worthy sweets and a relay of limited daily specialties
Among the featured gift sweets are “Tezukayama Basque” (¥1,944 for one whole cake) from the Osaka cheesecake specialist Forma, and “Caramel Biscuit (Butter)” (8 pieces, ¥1,458) from Caramel Kitchen of Hokkaido.
Another highlight is the “Ninki no Aji Higawari Gentei Relay,” a series of limited daily sales. Start times and quantities are set for each day.
- Wednesday, October 21, from 10:00: 四興楼 pork buns, 6 pieces, ¥1,620 (limited to 60; max. 2 per person)
- Thursday, October 22, from 12:00: Hatsuda wagyu bento, 1 box, ¥2,700 (first appearance; limited to 60; max. 2 per person)
- Friday, October 23, from 15:00: Patissier S. Koyama “Koyama Roll,” 1 roll, ¥1,890 (limited to 200; max. 2 per person)
- Saturday, October 24, from 15:00: Anagomeshi Ueno (Hiroshima) conger eel rice bento, 1 box, ¥2,700 (limited to 240; max. 3 per person)
- Sunday, October 25, from 15:00: 老祥記 pork buns, 10 pieces, ¥1,201 (limited to 250; max. 2 per person)
Quantities are limited, and numbered tickets may be handed out depending on the situation. Deliveries may also be delayed by traffic. If there is something you want, plan to arrive at its start time.
Event information
- Event: The 5th “Ninki no Aji Meguri”
- Dates: Wednesday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 27, 2026
- Hours: 10:00–19:00 (closes at 15:00 on the final day)
- Venue: Kintetsu Department Store Nara, 3rd-floor event hall (2-4-1 Saidaiji Higashimachi, Nara)
- Prices: Listed prices include consumption tax. Images are for illustration
