Kaki no Senmon: Persimmon Specialties on Sanjo Street
Explore the many forms of Nara-grown persimmon at a specialist shop on central Nara's Sanjo Street.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Kaki no Senmon: Persimmon Specialties on Sanjo Street
Kaki no Senmon turns a fruit associated with Nara into a year-round shop of sweets and pantry products. Its parent company, Ishii Bussan, began in 1965 and started processing persimmons in 1981; the persimmon monaka has been sold since 1990. At the Sanjo Street shop, the idea is more varied than simply buying dried fruit: the range includes a persimmon-filled wafer sweet, cake, jam, butter, vinegar, leaf tea and seasonal items. The shop is a useful stop between the two railway stations and the historic centre, especially for travellers curious about how a local harvest becomes a modern specialty food. It is a retail shop rather than a cafe or factory tour, and online catalogue availability does not guarantee that every item is on the shelf that day.
Start with the story of a regional fruit
The company's own history begins with Ishii Shoten in 1965 and records the start of persimmon processing in 1981. In 1990, it introduced persimmon yokan, persimmon monaka and persimmon jam. The current brand name, Kaki no Senmon, was adopted in 2016 as the company focused on persimmon products. That progression links traditional dried-fruit techniques with newer forms that fit a small gift or a breakfast table. These dates describe the maker's corporate and product history; they do not date the current shop building.
Try the signature persimmon monaka
The maker calls kaki monaka its best-selling product. It uses a filling cooked from ripe Nara persimmons rather than white bean paste, with pieces of fruit and Yoshino-grown yuzu for fragrance. The maker says one piece contains about half a persimmon and that the shell is shaped with a persimmon motif. Its product page checked on 20 October 2026 lists an individual piece at ¥180 and a 90-day shelf life from manufacture. Packaging, stock and the date on a particular item vary, so read the label and ask staff if you need a specific expiry period, allergen detail or a quantity for a group.
Compare fruit, leaf and pantry products
The wider range brings together several parts of the persimmon harvest: dried fruit and sweets, jam and persimmon butter, vinegar, and tea made with persimmon leaves. The operator also sells seasonal and refrigerated products, so the travel conditions differ by item. A product listed online may be sold out or unavailable at the Sanjo branch; confirm in store before planning a purchase around a particular flavour. For gifts, ask which items are individually wrapped, how long they keep and whether they need refrigeration. The manufacturer's online catalogue gives examples, but its prices and stock are not a promise of this branch's current inventory.
Fit the shop into a walk through central Nara
The store is on Sanjo Street near the junction with Yasuragi-no-michi. The operator lists a four-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station and an eight-minute walk from JR Nara Station. From the shop, visitors can continue east along Sanjo Street toward the old town and temple district, or return west toward JR Nara Station. There is no dedicated parking according to the operator, so use a public car park if arriving by car. The small shop is a quick retail stop; no seating, tasting session, workshop or English-language assistance is confirmed in the sources reviewed.
What to look for
A focused range of sweets and pantry goods made from Nara persimmons
Signature monaka uses persimmon filling and Yoshino yuzu rather than white bean paste
A short walk from both Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara stations
Photo notes
The operator's product and shop photographs are not licensed to MyNara. Obtain permission before reusing them. Ask staff before photographing inside and avoid photographing other customers. Product packaging and seasonal stock can change; do not use a generated image as a factual representation of a specific product.
SEASONAL CALENDAR
Events connected with Kaki no Senmon: Persimmon Specialties on Sanjo Street
These records are shared with MyNara’s event calendar, so dates and notices have one source. Recurring patterns are not confirmed dated editions; check the organizer’s latest guidance.
20th Arukunara Central Nara Stamp Rally (2026)
The 20th Arukunara campaign invites visitors to explore eight shopping streets between Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara. The official 2026 participant list names registered MyNara stops including Hotel New Wakasa, Kasuga Hotel, Hotel OBANA, Hotel Nikko Nara, Nara Washington Hotel Plaza, Asukaso, Sarusawa Pond Yoshidaya, Nara Guesthouse 3F, Kakinoha-zushi Tanaka, Cafe Fluke, Umasshu, Com Ngon, Sakura Burger, Kamaiki, Yamazakiya, Genkishin, Manshodo, Shubo Aya, Hiyori, Mafu Okai, Nakatanido, Mentoan, Nara Izumi Yusai, Manmando, Kaki no Senmon, Yatagarasu, Isshindo, Konjaku Kimono Akio, Salon Naramachi, Bambuno, Cherry's Spoon and LAMP BAR. A stamp is earned only when using a participating shop's service, buying something or dining there, while a stay earns two. Collect three stamps in the campaign booklet for one no-blank draw, up to three draws per booklet. The organizer lists more than 420 points and one booklet per person. The prize-draw goal is in front of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Sanjo on Sanjo-dori; it is not one of the Higashimuki shop venues. Confirm the official point list and each shop's opening before visiting. The 2026 edition ends November 9; no 2027 dates are confirmed.
Check organizer informationMake a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 20 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Kaki no Senmon — current Sanjo Street store address, hours and station access
- Kaki no Senmon — company and product history
- Kaki no Senmon — FAQ, product range and signature monaka
- Kaki no Senmon — monaka ingredients, product story, shelf life and listed price
- Visit Nara S01123 — directory listing and location cross-check
- Nara Prefecture — company and regional persimmon product background