Nakatanidou

Amazing freshly made Mochi stall in Nara, Japan, which lives up to the hype! The lines here are absolutely insane but it does not take long at all! We only waited 5 minutes in a line of about 30 people. For only 200 yen each, this was an incredible snack! The mochi was so chewy but not so chewy that it was hard to eat. This is a must visit if you’re already nearby!

Absolutely the best mochi I’ve ever had! This was my second visit to Nara, and I made a special trip from Uji just for this. I got them freshly made—still warm and delightfully gooey as it melted in my mouth! This time, I was lucky enough to catch the mochi pounding performance. It’s a fun and unique experience, though be prepared for large crowds and a bit of pushing, especially near the front. A heads-up: the mochi pounding stops at 3 PM and happens roughly every 30 minutes, so make sure to arrive before then. I’d recommend coming between 12 PM and 3 PM to catch the action and avoid disappointment. Highly recommend for both the experience and the amazing mochi!

I recently visited Nakatanidou, the famous mochi shop in Nara, and while I didn’t catch the iconic mochi-pounding demonstration, the experience was still absolutely worth it. Located just a short walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, Nakatanidou is known for its yomogi mochi—a soft, green rice cake made with mugwort and filled with sweet red bean paste. When I arrived, there was already a line forming, despite there being no mochitsuki (pounding) performance at the time. It’s clear that even without the show, this shop has built a loyal following based on the quality of its products. The mochi was incredibly fresh. Warm to the touch, slightly springy, and dusted in a light layer of kinako (roasted soybean flour), it had the perfect balance of earthy mugwort flavor and the smooth sweetness of the red bean filling. It was also surprisingly affordable—only about ¥130 per piece. Even without the spectacle of live mochi making, the atmosphere at Nakatanidou was lively. The staff worked quickly and cheerfully, and it was fun to see how efficiently they packed mochi for customers buying in bulk. I also appreciated that the shop opens relatively early, making it a great stop before exploring nearby attractions like Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple. While I was a bit disappointed not to see the famous high-speed pounding in action, the mochi itself was so delicious that it didn’t feel like a letdown. In fact, the calmness of the shop without the crowd gathering for the show made it easier to enjoy the food and take in the surroundings. If you’re in Nara, don’t skip Nakatanidou—pounding or not, their mochi is some of the best you’ll ever taste.

Extremely crowded, even if you go on time there's no guarantee you'll see the Mochi Guys as everyone is by the window, but the excitement and atmosphere are still worth. The mochi itself is quite tasty, soft, and melts in your mouth. The red bean paste is not overwhelmingly sweet and you can definitely go for a second one. It's priced at 200 Yen (~£1) per mochi, and packages come in sets of 1 up to 6.

A trip to Nara isn't complete without a stop at Nakatanidou for mochi. We were drawn in by the high-speed mochi pounding demonstration happening right outside the shop. the star is the freshly made mochi. It's served incredibly soft and delightfully chewy, with a delicious red bean filling.

The Mochi is soft and chewy! I always buy their mochi whenever I visit Nara because it’s so delicious, plus it’s fun to watch when they are making their signature Mochi.

Very interesting watching them make mochi. Short and sweet was the demonstration - very crowded. They were selling for 200 yen each (currently 140 yen =1 USD).

Famous mochi stand in the heart of Nara. The matcha mochi stuffed with red bean is their signature and for a good reason. Soft and chewy mochi with a vibrant sweetness of red bean. A nice snack at any time of day. Was perfect for our end of day walk back to the train station after a beautiful afternoon interacting with the many Nara deer.

Yelp Review 2025 #29: One of the rare places made popular by influencers that's actually good. They have two lines that are massive but they move really quick. They have mugwort mochi with red bean filling which made them popular. They also have senbei (crackers). It's always congested in front and around Nakatanidou which is why they have people that do crowd control especially when vehicles need to pass through. Everyone wants to watch the mochi pounding which happens every 30 minutes when they're super busy early in the day, and every hour when it gets a bit slower in the afternoon. They have the time for the next mochi pounding posted on their window but it's not 100% accurate. I had just missed a mochi pounding so I went to Nara Park and explored Nara. I came back 2 hours later and I waited a whole hour for the mochi pounding. I had the best view and it was entertaining. A few months ago, each mochi was 180 yen. When I went, it was 200 yen each. You can get them by the piece or a tray of 6 or more. They only take cash - preferably exact change so you don't hold up the line. The mochi is warm, soft, and slightly chewy. The flavor is mildly sweet. Each mochi is dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour) to prevent them from sticking. I was wearing a black hoodie and I was covered in kinako. So, maybe, wear light colors...or a bib.

You're here because of the mochi pounding, which happens every 45min or so (there's a sign that indicates when the next pounding is happening). Didn't see what was so impressive, but there are long lines of people waiting to watch. Be careful not to get run over as there's not much sidewalk. It's 200 yen (cash only) for a red bean filled matcha mochi with kinako powder on top. Personally, I think it's just average and have had better. However, if you're not much for sweets, I think their mochi has a more subtle, warmer taste and texture, so it might be for you if so.

I waited in line for the mochi, which moved quickly, but too crowded for filming the mochi pounding show. I wanted to see it, but it happened quickly, so I only caught the very end from the front of the food line. The next showing wasn't for another hour and a half, so we moved on to see more of Nara and took another route back to the train station. It was probably the softest mochi I have ever had, and just the right amount of sweetness. It's definitely worth a taste, but not much success trying to view/capture the show (this was cherry blossom season).

Another reason to come to Nara besides to see the amazingly tame deer is to experience the high-speed mochi pounding at Nakatanido. It was founded in 1992 and has been a destination by locals and visitors alike when visiting Nara. Some people think that mochi pounding is just for show, but it is not. Let me tell you from someone who has experienced it first hand and spoken to people who do it... It's a whole process as it helps the hot, fresh mochi to turn into the soft delicacy that you experience eating. Some ask why is their mochi green? It's because they use mugwort in the process. What is mugwort, you might ask? I know it doesn't sound appetizing but it's a perennial plant that has many uses including a medicinal herb, used in cooking and as a flavoring agent like in their mochi. So if anyone says hey, stop eating the mochi, tell them it is medicinal and I will eat as much as I want as it is for my health. In actuality, you wont be able to stop because they are so good.

Finally was able to stop by the famous mochi pounding store in Nara!! We wanted to come right around opening to avoid some potential crowds, but this became a bummer because we found out that they didn't do the live mochi pounding that day until closer to noon. We didn't want to wait too long though, so we just ended up grabbing some mochi and heading out afterward. The mochis here are SO good. Very soft and pillowy. The red bean filling was amazing, too! The kinako flavors were also very fragrant. They're pretty quick and efficient since they pack everything in advance so that it's a quick grab-and-go. Cash only!

Probably the best mochi that I had in my life so far. The mochi was soft and still slightly warm when we got our individual mochis. The red bean filling was quite good too. You should also eat the mochi once you get it since it's better to eat it fresh. The line was long, but it was super efficient and quick. There was a guy overseeing the line, a cashier staff, and a staff handing you the mochi after payment. A mochi piece is 180 Yen ($1.20+ USD). They also have a convenient payment chart so you don't have to calculate the amount for your mochi purchase. Btw, it's cash only too. Definitely recommend.

Found this place kind of randomly as we walked from Nara station to the park. There was a pretty big line so we jumped in not really knowing what we were going to get. The line moves fast, but they're kind of disorganized. At least you can see how fresh the mochi is--they make it consistently right in front of the customers. For 180yen, I think it's a great little snack. The green mochi was perfectly soft and not too sweet. I liked the kinako powder it was dusted with and even though I don't like red bean usually, I liked the mochi so much that I didn't mind the red bean filling. This is literally a stand on the side of the street so people were kind of huddle along the sidewalk (because it was cold), eating their mochi.

Came here to watch the free ass-slapping mochi-making show. The show was quite short but impressive, so I give this review a 5-star. They had a note to indicate what time the show would start so there was fixed time. The show actually started 30 minutes before their note. I think it just depended on how the old guy who was the main character feels like it lol. Our show was noted to start at 12:30 PM. Anyways, the mochi was quite good and fresh. Are they better than other places? It's hard to say. I guess the quality is about the same.

I've been wanting to come here for last couple years and it did not disappoint. I was lucky to be there when the guys were doing the mochi pounding that has been all over social media. These guys were like celebrities as there were like 25-30 people all crowded together and trying to film them on their phones and cameras. As for the mochi itself, it was so delish as it was so fresh and still warm. I only tried the yomogi mochi which is a green colored mochi with anko beans (red beans) inside and is hand-rolled in kinako powder which is a soybean flour. The soft and chewy texture made it so easy to eat. I think they sold for ¥180 each and I bought a 3-pack for myself and ate them all that same day.

My husband and I came by Nakatanidou on our way to the Nara Deer Park during our honeymoon in Japan in October. 5 stars for the entertainment, 4.5 stars for the mochi - it was good! But it wasn't the best I had while visiting Japan. When we first arrived, they had a sticker on the side window saying the next "show" would be at 11:30. Since we didn't want to wait, we figured we'd stop by on our way back to the train station and see if we could catch a show then. We purchased a 6 pack of mochi and went on our way. The mochi was soft, filled with red bean and covered in soybean powder. Not too sweet. Though the line may look long, it moves rather quickly as they already have a lot of the mochi pre-packaged. On our way back towards around 3/4pm we caught a "show" of the slapping mochi. At first, the mochiman was actually directing pedestrian traffic on the street, but they called him in so we could see him do his show - it was really fun! Entertaining and their store is right by the Higashimuki Shopping Street and Sanjo Dori Street (the main street you take from the JR Nara Station to Nara Park) too! Also, as a side note: my husband and I did keep a couple overnight and they tasted fine the next day as well :)

Freshest tasting Mochi, so soft and warm, red bean filling is the only option . I highly recommend visiting, Mochi was very reasonably priced. The lines were long but very efficiently run. If you are in Nara, stop by, no place to sit and the shop is easy to find.

THE famous mochi spot in Nara. Their mochi pounding show is brief but their Mugi Mochi was indeed worth the hype. I love how soft and stretchy the mochi was. The red bean filling inside was slightly sweet, matching the bitterness of the mugi dough very well. Additionally, the kinako powder gave a nuttiness that worked very well with everything. You might be tempted to split one or two amongst your group but do yourself a favor and get one each!

Nakatanidou is a shop in Nara, famous for their mochi pounding. It's quite a sight to see the mochi being pounded live. The men who do the pounding really are fast at it. There's no set schedule for the mochi pounding, but their website says they do it about 10 - 15 times a day. We got there early in the day to catch one of the mochi pounding demonstrations. I do recommend going earlier in the day when the shop is opening, to catch a mochi pounding. Right after the mochi has been pounded, it gets placed into a machine where it's molded into shape with a filling inside. You can buy these right away and they are soooo good! Nothing like eating freshly pounded mochi!

"I Remember You Falling Into Kohaku River, And I Remember Your Little Pink Shoe..." - Haku & Chihirō And the fastest Mochi pounder in the world is... Mitsuo "Mochiman" Nakatan, who has a collection of Mochitsuki awards to prove it, oh and he's also owner to Nakatanidou in Nara, Japan! Ya! The all over IG one! It feels sacrilege to give Nakatanidou anything less than perfect. I mean as a kid who was raised on Mochi and has traveled the world in search of the best of everything Mochi... this place is the Temple of Mochi, right? Eh, I just didn't feel it! Very good, but... First, shout-out to my host, Hiro-san who took the time to walk me over in the hot Nara sun. This without me even asking him lol. To say Japanese are not the most polite people in the world would be saying you haven't been here. Not only did he walk me over, he asked if I needed more help. Um I think I'm okay *sigh Hiro-san fast tracked me over and even gave me a tip (as a architectural photographer) in where to take a photo of the historic Nara Pagoda. Arigatō Hiro-san! More later on that lake, but first let's get Mochi! I arrive with a "semi" formed line as it seemed like people were just standing behind each other. Perhaps some were just waiting for the famous Mochi pounding, idk. And as much as I wanted to witness the pounding it was such a hot day that I just wanted to get my Mochi and taste test it with a cup of Matcha! Hmm trying to locate the shortest line (?)... I ended up just standing between two lines lol. A women in line told me (in Japanese) I could go straight up to one of the girls if I'm only buying a few and that's what I did. And just like that I'm next, but a sign also says "Yen Only" and I forget to pull out! Fortunately I dug up enough coins to purchase three. Tho I really wanted to get more for Hiro-san and his daughter *sigh* I wasn't fortunate enough to see the IG-viral Nakatan-san pounding away, but I was fortunate to score a small pack! Employees were all busy, but still polite and efficient. The location is small, rustic and on the shopping street where local cafes and souvenir shops line the historic walk. Yes, touristy but a must in Nara! Prized Mochi in hand it's time to taste it! It's soft, chewy Yomogi Mochi, which is dusted by hand with Kinako (roasted soybean flour) before being served. Generous Red Bean paste fill each. The sweetness and gooey texture of Beans compliment the Yomogi. Mmm as I enjoy it with my Uji Matcha from a few doors away. However, the legendary question remains... is it the best, ever? Best I've had? Oh! Its such an unfair question since each experience is subjective. If I experienced the Mochitsuki, if it wasn't such a scorching day, if I had more Yen in my pocket then maybe, just maybe. It was certainly delicious, fresh, an experience that will forever live in me, but... I'll protect my childhood memories and leave the best, ever, to the Mochi from my Grandma. Ja ne... 愛 Pls follow my journey on IG: @eric_travel_guru

Missed the mochi show but was able to try one after a bit of a wait on line; the red bean filling was sweet and the texture was quite soft yet pliable. Eaten fresh, it was still warm and powdery outside.

Soooooo soft and warm! This viral mochi place lives up to the hype! They do the mochi pounding every 30 minute interval, but you may need to wait a bit to secure a spot at the front of the line as there's always a crowd. You can buy the pounded mochi fresh and warm, and it is delicious! It was also not too pricy considering that it's at a tourist location.

We went to visit the mochi man from the viral clip of him pounding that mochi to soft cloudiness of heaven. They run the mochi pounding show quite often (they announce it when they are doing it - it can get a bit crowded). Its good to see that fresh batches are made frequently. But with that being said, how is the mochi? Its actually really good. Show aside, just the mochi alone is worth going (so much so that wife wanted to return to Nara just for the mochi when we were at Tokyo). Highly recommend! Overall Kel rating: 5/5 The good: Soft, chewy, mochi mmmmmMMmmmm The decent: Can get quite crowded if you want to watch the show. The ugly: None

What's up: This was on our list because of all those Instagram posts we've seen of two guys pounding and slapping the mochi. Even if that wasn't the case, this place is known for their super soft and fresh mochi, so yeah, we gotta come try it out! Access: A 12 minute walk from JR Nara Station. Environment: Just look for the line when you get close to this place. There's tons of people lining up to grab some warm and fresh mochi to snack on. If you're lucky, you'll get to see the mochi pounding (unfortunately, we were not). But you'll see the glass area and the pounding pedestal on the far left side of the store. It was kinda chaotic, but basically go up to a staff member, tell them how many you want, and pay. You'll get your mochi and off you go. No designated eating area so just pick a place on the sidewalk and chow down on it. What was ordered: - Mochi (soft, warm, and gooey deliciousness filled with anko red paste) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. The mochi was yummy, warm, and super chewy. We weren't lucky enough to see the pounding process but it was still cool to see the staff members dust the mochi. Cash only.

You've probably seen Nakatanidou on social media as the mochi destination where mochi is hammered and hand pounded using traditional practices. As you approach the shop, you'll be able to easily identify it, as there will most likely be a group of people outside, waiting to watch the mochI be made. I'm not too certain as to how frequently they make the mochi per day as we were fortunate, when we arrived, to only wait less than 10 min to witness everything but the people there already seemed to have waited a while. Watching the mochi be made is definitely a unique experience. Be sure to have your camera ready to record. It's very neat to watch and once they finish making it, you can buy it definitely from their hands. The texture of the mochi is so soft yet chewy. Lightly sweet dough, topped with kinako, and filled with sweet red bean, it's the perfect treat before taking a walk through Nara Park

After getting off of JR Nara station, it's about a 10-15 minute walk. I didn't get to witness the mochi pounding, but that's okay as the finished product was absolutely delicious. The warm mochi just melts in your mouth. The line moved quickly; waited less than 3 minutes. A must stop in Nara!

It was def worth the trip from Tokyo to Nara to get this mochi. Soooooo fresh & soft. And only 180 yen (about $1.30 USD). My husband & I both had a few. As someone who doesn't like red bean, I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. It was a tiny bit of sweetness which was really good. And of course, if you're there at the right time the employees put on a show and pound the mochi. I already miss this mochi. Hard to find something as good as this in Seattle and not overpriced.

Freshly made mochi near Nara Park. Their demonstrations are very popular on social media. The owner Misuo Nakatani is a high-speed mochi-making master; he pounds the mochi by hand really fast while another person rapidly pounds it with a mallet without hitting him! We were visiting Nara to see and feed the bowing deer. Nakatanidou was on the way back to the train station, so we made a quick stop here. I didn't immediately spot it, but I saw the hordes of people crowding around the shop and knew we were at the right place. The mochi pounding demonstrations happen only when they need to make a fresh batch, there are no set times or schedules. They do about 10-15 per day, more if they're selling well and less if it's a slow day. You can ask a staff member when the next demonstration will happen. The last one is around 4 PM, but the store will stay open until 7 PM. They specialize in one flavor of mochi. The green glutinous rice cake is mugwort, and has a soft yet chewy consistency. The outside is dusted off with a bit of roasted soybean flour. The filling inside is red bean, which I'm personally not really a fan of but I appreciated the added sweetness. While the line looks very long, they're fairly quick at processing orders. Mochi is ¥180 each ($1.28 USD), cash only. They also sell rice crackers. One annoying thing that happened was that they opened a second line but didn't say it was for single orders only. I found out when I got to the front and had to go to the first line because I was buying a pack. I'm sure you've seen all the viral videos; it's worth watching in person!

You get mochi and a show here! The show is really short but worth it. Their mochi is also really good! Stop by and experience the mochi!

this was just epic. not only was watching the men pound the mochi like there's no tomorrow (~every 10 min), the mochi itself (filled w red bean and dusted w soybean powder) was just the softest and chewiest thing. btw the green color isn't matcha, it's mugwort! don't ask me what that is lol

Seen this on one of of my feeds, since I was going to be in Kyoto for a day and was only going to visit Fushimi-Ianari Tashi temple figured we should try this place out. The spot really did not have seating it was more of a restaurant front that had an inside where you can see in and watch them make fresh mochi. Experience alone was top tier, these folks pump out all these mochi's fresh what seemed to be like every 25min, pre packed 3/6/12 pieces only got six cause fresh is always better then day old lol. The process of them beating the dough was very eventful, not something you see anymore definitely recommend you drop by if you are in the area Taste on these mochi's hit different, only saw the one flavor colored green with semi light brown seasoning. Gooey, squishy, perfection is my best description. Different between these and trader joes frozen isle picks is 1 they are not semi frozen, 2 they are not tiny, 3 they are not dense, 4 they are not covered in hella white powder Again if your in the area sample these Mochi ***** fresh is way better then frozen lol Price $ Service ***** quick Ambiance ***** no seating you watch on the left and buy to the right, don't block the street folks

Why is there a line in the street? Oh right, it's because here you can find some of the best fresh mochi in Japan. Cheap, simple, classic and perfect, you will wish you could buy a few dozen to take home but alas, they have a 24 hour shelf life. They only make one thing here, matcha mochi with red bean filling. The mochi are stretchy/chewy with a great matcha flavor balanced by savory/sweet filling and dusted with ground sesame. They are perfect and at ¥180 each, a bargain too. Just remember to eat them in front of the shop or take them back to your room as walking and eating is frowned upon.

When in Nara, I had to visit the Nakatanidou for their famous mochi! We arrived just before a mochi-pounding demonstration which was very fun to witness. What I got: - Mochi with red bean filling Final Thoughts: This shop is a hot spot for tourists, myself included, and close to some other popular shops so the street itself was incredibly crowded with the risk of being pushed around a bit. That being said, the mochi itself was incredibly soft, chewy, and filled with a sweet red bean filling. It's definitely worth a visit to grab one of these freshly made treats!

Nakatanidou is conveniently close to Nara Deer Park, aka convenient if you're a tourist like us who was only in Nara for a day trip oriented around sights in the Nara Deer Park. They are known for yomogi mochi, which was delicious. I also enjoyed a rice cracker and love the freshly made rice crackers that are available throughout stores in Japan. They stop doing the mochi demonstrations at 2pm as an FYI, so unfortunately we missed it because we didn't get to the store early enough.

We were there right at opening so fortunately there was not a line but the mochi was okay. I prefer the mochi texture to be softer and the red bean filling to be less sweet. It's still a nice treat after all the walking and exploring around Nara! I asked the lady working what time they normally pound the fresh mochi and she said 12pm since that is when they are the busiest so that may be the best time to try their mochi!

Come stop at this popular yomogi mochi spot when visiting Nara! They are known for their traditional mochitsuki pounding method to make their delicious pound cake. Unfortunately, I missed seeing them make it, but was able to at least try the mochi. It was absolutely incredible. The filling itself was not too sweet, but sure has a lot of powder on the outside. Didn't know what real matcha mochi tasted like until now. 10/10 recommend.

The hours on Yelp states that they open at 10am. I am glad I didn't let that deter me from walking by around 9:20am. Luckily, they were open and I was able to get my warm, fresh mochi. Incredibly delicious that I could have easily eaten two. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the mochi pounding.

The iconic mochi from Nara! This is the same place you've seen videos of people slapping, flipping, and pounding mochi. Not only was it entertaining but the mochi itself was so good. Inside this nice and warm mochi was a satisfying semi-sweet red bean filling. I came first thing in the morning about 30 mins into this place opening and I waited less than 10 mins to get my mochi. I ordered 4 pieces, one to eat initially and then 3 pieces to take to go and enjoy later that day. And boy was I glad I made that decision because I kid you not, one hour later the line for this place was soooooooo long when I passed by so I was happy I bought extra.

Finally got to see them make mochi in person. This was worth the hype. The mochi is extremely soft and chewy.

We happened to walk by this place and were drawn by the crowd watching the mochi pounding. It was pretty entertaining, though after manually pounding it, they then put the freshly pounded mochi into a machine to split into smaller pieces and finish the mochi haha. I thought it would all be done by hand! The mochi was soft and flavorful - it was a nice snack on the way to our next stop

I never had mochi before, and I think I will be chasing the dragon for the rest of my life. The shop is outdoor facing. It was busy, but the line went very fast. It is cash only.

After visiting Nara park we stopped by a famous mochi place - Nakatanidou - where you can see how mochis are made (mochi pounding). We were too late and the preparation show was over (I've heard you need to be there before 1pm), but we still bought mochi and yes, it was the best mochi we ever had. What else can I say?

Came to Nara Park to see the bowing deer. I had seen a few posts on this mochi spot that makes fresh matcha mochi. We unfortunately came at a time that the weren't making the mochi dough. Although when you walk up the sight of these desserts was just as great of a sight. We picked up a couple of the freshly made mochi. The outside had a light tan dusting that I wasn't quite sure was. Yet the softness of these pillowy pieces of heaven were amazing!!! These little pillows were filled with a lightly sweet red pean paste that completed these delicious desserts. I'll be back again Nara Japan!!!

Thanks to my local friend Zoe who tipped me off about this mochi shop in Nara. You can't miss it as there's always a small line. The texture is smooth and fillings are plenty. Each mochi is 180 yen, regardless of how many you buy. It's a must-try for anyone visiting Nara.

THE FAMOUS POUNDING MOCHI! A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting Nakatanidou. They're known for their viral pounding mochi videos all over Japan with mochi so warm and soft, and red beans so sweet and juicy. On the way to Nara Park, this is a definite pitstop. Crowds of people stand to the side to witness the men in action. It truly can't be missed! Because of its popularity and to keep oncoming traffic flowing smoothly, one worker helps guide customers to make way for oncoming vehicles. The line to purchase mochi moves quickly and efficiently. If we could, we'd buy a lot more than just 4 pieces. Because it's freshly made, the mochi is extra soft and extra sweet. Throughout our entire trip in Japan, we didn't come across a mochi as good as this one, so be sure to stop by when you have the chance!

Oh so CLOSE!!! We got off from the train hustling to try and get to the Deer Park but I first wanted to make a quick stop to Nakatanidou to see the fastest mochi pounders in action. We finally got there but I was kinda bummed as we JUST missed the final "show" (pounding takes place from 11am-4pm, randomly)of the day...:( they were already cleaning the area but there was still a sizable crowd buying up the freshly pounded mochi, so to make the best of the situation, I got in line to grab a pack of 6 as the empty containers holding these little jewels were being stacked up by the minute. Silky smooth, not overly sweet azuki bean paste enclosed with an exterior of freshly pounded mugwort mochi (NOT Matcha) finished with a dusting of kinako powder(roasted soybean). Slightly warm and oh so pillowy soft like an infant baby's butt, this is definitely some of the best mochi you'll ever try, seriously. Kinda like the Leonard's Malassadas of the mochi world! KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Get there before 4pm if you want to see the mochi pounding action Buy more than one...you can't eat just one!? Enjoy in little bites...the heimlich maneuver won't save you from choking They sell senbei(rice crackers) here as well, but the mochi is where at. There are no preservatives in the mochi, so they have a very short shelf life and do not travel well(our last two pieces went bad during our time in Osaka)...no omiyage possibilities. You have to make the trek to Nara to experience this. ALOHA!!! Shake Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 5

We visited Nara purely because I wanted to see the bowing deers and to get some mochi from the famous shop that I seen on YouTube years ago with the guy yelling and pounding while making mochi! Wow!!! Just like the YouTube video I seen years ago! They do the "skit" every few minutes. If you want to get a good video, stand right in front of where the wooden device is (the thing where they pound the mochi). I stood to the left and while I had a great view of them making the mochi, the glass door was full of flour, so my video kind of sucked. Minus one star because while it was a great experience, when I ate the red bean mochi, I thought the mochi tasted a little funny... Kind of plastic-y . It definitely tasted better when it was super fresh, when it's literally just right out of the machine press that forms the red bean mochi ball.

For ¥150, you can get 1 mochi w red bean filling. It's a relatively fast line since they already have everything prepackaged for the most part. Good mochi? Yes. Life changing? No. If you're in the area to pet deer, this is on your way back to the station. But don't come out of your way to come to Nara just to eat mochi.

Some of the most soft and delicious mochi I have ever had. I know this sentiment echos much of what my fellow Yelpers have been saying because it's true. Since the place is located off a main/busy street one of the staff members is near the line directing people to get out of the street and get in the queue. Although the line goes pretty far down the block they are really efficient. It only took about 5 mins to get their soft mochi in my hands even after waiting in a line. I'm a mochi fan so your girl just up and went and bought one of their 8 mochi packs for only 1000 Yen. If you're not as risky as me you can also buy them individually and see if you like them before buying more. I saw them selling in packs of 4, 6, and 8. This location only sells one type of mochi which is probably a good thing because they do it really well. If you're not feeling mochi they also sell other sweets like crackers. They are cash only so keep that in mind when visiting. If you're lucky, you might be able to make it during one of the times where the staff is pounding a new batch. If you're like me, I just waited to catch the show that has been spread all over the internet. I have to admit it's amazing to see how effortlessly they pound the mochi and how staff members go back to other duties after doing so. If you can't wait until you get back to your hotel to take a bite, be sure to ask for some papers to eat them because they will fall out of your hand because they are so soft!

On our way back to the station, we wanted to try the infamous mochi spot in town, Nakatanidou. It's hard to miss as it's on the main road. Just look for the hoards of people crowding around. They also sell fresh rice crackers which I've never seen before. They apparently do a show every now and then where the mochi gets pounded but we didn't catch it. You can buy the mochi by the box; once you buy more than 7, you start saving some yen. - Mochi (¥130) - we got one to try that was still warm. Texture was pleasant. The peanut/sesame dusting/coating is fresh and tasty. Same for the red bean paste inside; not too sweet, soft and chewy. - Seven flavoured spices with light spicy flavour (¥130) - good crunch and lightly seasoned. Worth a try but not as good as their mochi. Definitely worth a quick visit. Perfect little snack spot.

The best mochi I have ever eaten! My friend and I decided to visit Nara and after a day at Nara park, we went to this famous mochi place. It wasn't really difficult to find since there was a large group of people gathered around. While waiting, you can see them pound mochi in front of you as well. Mochi was very fresh and different than the ones that come packaged at the supermarkets. There was definitely a difference in the consistency of the mochi.

I was skeptical at first - I've had many a mochi in my lifetime and I've never been fond of bean paste - but after seeing *that* viral video, I reluctantly decided to try Nakatanidou at least once. ...And glad I did because it was the best mochi I've ever had!! The mochi was incredibly soft yet so chewy, you could do a slight "mozzarella" pull with your teeth. Plus, it was still warm - probably because it had just been pounded - adding to the melt-in-your-mouth softness. As for the bean paste that I was afraid of, it was actually an excellent textural complement to the mochi. Unlike most bean paste I've had, this one wasn't entirely smooth (which added good mouth feel!) or overbearingly sweet. I'm not sure this mochi would have worked as well with any one element missing - each ingredient in it served a purpose in striking the perfect balance and Nakatanidou did an excellent job bringing them together. As for the pounding of the mochi itself... I found it was a bit underwhelming to see in person - I feel like it's better viewed in high definition on a monitor. My eyes just don't do it justice. But if the performance is what 's convincing you to go, fine! It doesn't matter what drives you - as long as you you try that mochi!!

So cool! I love the live action mochi making. Not a hard place to find since there's almost always a crowd waiting to get a taste of that fresh chewy mochi. Get some while they're hot! arigatou gozaimasu!!

Amazing - this just might be the best mochi I've had to date. So if you come here you have to try the fresh mochi that they are selling just after making it. Not the ones that they packaged from the last batch that maybe from half an hour ago. Even 30 minutes makes a huge difference.The fresh ones are noticeably softer and have a stretchier consistency. It's worth the wait (and the plus side is you get to watch the mochi making in action).

The mochi are very soft and good. They are filled with red beans and powdered with peanuts. The true reason we came here was because my husband is obsessed with this YouTube video of the owner punching the hell out of the mochi while he makes it. There is a sign that says mochi is made randomly between 11am - 4pm. We first came at 10:30 which was too early and then missed it again when we came back at 3pm. We ended up buying 8 mochi back to our Airbnb. Wish we could have seen them make the mochi and eat it nice and fresh. Till next time!