The Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building (鹿猿狐ビルヂング), a mixed-use complex in Nara's Naramachi district operated by Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, is marking its 5th anniversary since opening in April 2021. As part of a year-long series of anniversary events running from April through December 2026, the first installment—themed "Shika-zukushi, Spring Festival" (A Celebration of All Things Deer)—will take place from April 10 (Friday) through May 31 (Sunday). Seven deer-themed experiences await visitors this spring in Nara.
Nara is famous for its deer—approximately 1,300 free-roaming deer inhabit the area around Nara Park, and they have long been revered as sacred messengers of the gods since the founding of Kasuga Grand Shrine about 1,300 years ago. For Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, whose logo features a deer as a symbol of its founding city, the deer is an inseparable part of its identity.
The building itself was created in 2021 on land adjacent to Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten's founding location, with the concept of "wandering the alleys to encounter, touch, learn, and taste Nara." It brings together a gallery housed in the renovated former Nakagawa family residence and storehouse, a shop showcasing Nara craftsmanship, dining establishments (Sarutahiko Coffee, Kitsune, and Salon), and a tourist information center.
Experience 1: Shikayose — The Beloved Deer Gathering of Nara Park
A natural horn call draws dozens of deer running out of the forest in a breathtaking spectacle known as "shikayose." This beloved seasonal tradition at Nara Park will be hosted by the Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building over six days.
- Dates: April 12 (Sun), 19 (Sun), 26 (Sun), May 3 (Sun), 17 (Sun), 24 (Sun) *Cancelled in rain
- Time: 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM
- Location: Tobihino, Kasuga Grand Shrine grounds
- Admission: Free
- Reservations: Not required
Experience 2: Walking Tour with Deer Through Nara
After the shikayose, volunteer guides from Suzaku-kai lead a morning walk through Nara's streets alongside the deer. The approximately 45-minute guided tour travels from the shikayose venue to the Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building, passing through notable sites, while exploring the historical background of why deer are considered messengers of the gods.
- Dates: April 12 (Sun), 19 (Sun), 26 (Sun), May 3 (Sun), 17 (Sun), 24 (Sun) *Cancelled in rain
- Time: 10:15 AM to 11:00 AM
- Route: Tobihino → Kasuga Grand Shrine approach → Naramachi → Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building
- Admission: Free
- Reservations: Advance reservations preferred (capacity: 20 people); reserve via the official website
Experience 3: Create a One-of-a-Kind Deer Magnet
This workshop recreates a shikayose scene with wooden deer magnets made from Nara Prefecture timber. Participants choose their favorite deer from a selection and paint its face to create a personalized magnet to take home.
- Dates: April 10–12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 29; May 2–6, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
- Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Location: Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara Main Store, 2F Workshop Space
- Fee: ¥550 (tax included)
- Reservations: Not required *Limited quantity; ends when supplies run out
Experience 4: Interactive Sweet "Deer Tiramisu" at Sarutahiko Coffee
Sarutahiko Coffee is offering a limited-edition interactive dessert called "Shika Tiramisu" (Deer Tiramisu). The fluffy tiramisu forms the face, and customers decorate it with included toppings—pretzel ears, white chocolate eyes, and bitter chocolate nose—to finish their own deer creation. The dessert features a rich espresso flavor.
- Location: Sarutahiko Coffee Nara, Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building
- Price: ¥680 (eat-in, tax included)
- Available: From April 10 (Fri) until supplies run out
Experience 5: Deer Monaka Ice Cream with Nara Sake Lees at Kitsune
Sukiyaki kaiseki restaurant Kitsune is serving a limited-edition sweet: an ice cream made with sake lees from "Kaze no Mori," a celebrated Nara sake, sandwiched inside deer-shaped monaka wafers. Available as a takeout item as well as a dessert course in the restaurant. It pairs nicely with the new takeout item "Kitsune no Oinari" for a spring walk or hanami.
- Location: Kitsune, Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building
- Price: Deer Monaka Ice Cream ¥500 (takeout, tax included); Kitsune no Oinari ¥1,300 (takeout, tax included)
- Available: From April 10 (Fri) until supplies run out
Experience 6: Shika-zukushi Matcha Ceremony Experience
Salon, the tea ceremony brand by Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, is offering a casual outdoor matcha experience. Participants whisk their own matcha in a deer-decorated Akahada-yaki ceramic bowl while enjoying a special deer-branded monaka called "Shika Kodane" (Deer Seed).
- Dates: April 12 (Sun), 19 (Sun), 26 (Sun), May 3 (Sun), 17 (Sun), 24 (Sun)
- Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (held continuously)
- Location: Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building, 1F Inner Courtyard
- Fee: ¥1,100 (tax included)
Experience 7: Immersive Audio Guide Narrated by 7 Deer
A new audio guide will launch in partnership with the smartphone app "ON THE TRIP," inviting visitors to explore the building through their ears and feet. Themed "A Story Beginning with 7 Deer," the guide leads visitors to discover seven deer hidden throughout the building while unveiling the history of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten and the stories behind its architecture.
- Available from: Mid-April (planned)
- Languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- How to use: Available via App Store, Google Play, or web browser
Shika-Saru-Kitsune Building
- Address: 22 Motobayin-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
- Access: Approximately 7 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station; approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Kansai Line Nara Station
- Hours:
- Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Nara Main Store: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Sarutahiko Coffee: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last order 6:30 PM)
- Kitsune: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (last order 2:00 PM) / 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (course last order 7:00 PM, à la carte last order 8:00 PM)
- Salon: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last order 6:30 PM)
- Closed: No regular holidays (Kitsune closed on Wednesdays)
- Opened: April 14, 2021
