See You at OKUNO in Nara
Hello. This is Tomotake Ichikawa.
September has arrived, and the season is beginning to shift from summer into autumn.
As we have shared in this journal and on social media,
our Basketry Exhibition & Sale in Nara is now just around the corner.
This time, I would like to show you the route to OKUNO, the venue for the event, with photographs along the way.
I have also included a few notes and requests for the day of the event below,
so if you are planning to visit, please take a moment to read them in advance.
This will also be our first time using OKUNO in Nara.
So, with much the same feeling as those visiting for the first time,
I actually walked the route from Kintetsu Nara Station to OKUNO myself.
Along the way, I took photographs and noted the landmarks and route.
On the day, I hope you will enjoy the walk as well, almost like checking each point off and thinking, “Ah, this is it.”
On the map, the location looks like this.
From Exit 6 of Kintetsu Nara Station, please take the stairs on the left.
Once you reach street level, the route shown on the map leads to the left,
then turns left again and continues along the narrow lane.
OKUNO is located further down the lane.
We will be welcoming you at this venue and look forward to seeing you there.
This is the entrance to OKUNO, the venue for our Basketry Exhibition & Sale.
The space is a renovated traditional Nara townhouse, with its tiled roof and wooden fittings still preserved,
giving it a sense of the building’s earlier character.
The floor is finished in mortar, reminiscent of a traditional earthen floor, creating a calm atmosphere throughout the space.
Now, let’s return to the station and follow the route to OKUNO step by step with photographs. The nearest station to OKUNO is Kintetsu Nara Station. It is about a three-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. You can also reach OKUNO from JR Nara Station, which is about a ten-minute walk away. 
On the platform, a charming illustration of a deer welcomes you.
It was one of those small moments that made me realize, “I’ve arrived in Nara.”
One thing I noticed when visiting this time was just how convenient Kintetsu Nara Station is to reach. From Kyoto Station, you can travel directly by Kintetsu Railway. From Osaka-Namba as well, you can reach Kintetsu Nara Station without changing trains. Even for those coming from farther away, I felt that Nara is surprisingly easy to access. 
This is a train heading toward Osaka-Namba. You can travel directly from Osaka-Namba to Kintetsu Nara Station without changing trains. 
This is a train heading toward Kobe-Sannomiya. Some of the trains were decorated with illustrations of deer and scenes from Nara. According to OKUNO, visitors come not only from Osaka and Kyoto, but also from Hyogo and Shiga, and even from the Nagoya area. 
After getting off the train, you will see signs like these. To reach OKUNO, follow the signs for the West Exit and Exit 6. 
Above the ticket gates, you will see signs like these as well. The sign shows “5・・7,” so Exit 6 is not listed, but this is still the correct direction. Please continue following the signs for the West Exit and Exit 6. 
At last, you will see a sign for “Exit 6,” which is a little reassuring.
At this point, the words “West Exit” disappear and the sign simply says “Exit,” but just keep following the signs for Exit 6.
At this point, the sign finally shows only “Exit 6.” Once you have made it this far, there should be no more confusion.
Simply continue on toward Exit 6.
Just when you think you can relax, the stairs split into two directions. Here, please take the stairs on the left.
As you continue up the stairs on the left, you will see a bakery ahead. Once you reach the top of the stairs, turn right. 
After climbing the stairs and turning right, continue straight along the sidewalk. On your left, you will pass a café with a green sign. This is the café that the team at OKUNO kindly took me to during my visit. 
Continue straight along the sidewalk and pass through the building ahead. When you reach an intersection without traffic lights, do not cross the street. Instead, turn left and continue along the road. 
You will then come to a street with tactile paving running along the center. Continue straight along this street for about 50 m (approx. 164 ft). 
As you continue, you will see a building with a large blue sign on your left. 
Just beyond the building, you will see a narrow lane near a green fence. Turn left into that lane. 
On your right, you will see the green fence, while the wall of the building with the large blue sign continues along your left.
For a moment, it may look as though the lane comes to a dead end, but please continue straight ahead.
Continue along the narrow, winding lane, turning gently as it bends through the neighborhood. 
You will then come to a narrow street lined on both sides with offices, shops, and restaurants. 
OKUNO is located at the very end of this narrow street. 
Continue to the very end of the narrow street, and you will arrive at OKUNO. We expect this sign to be displayed on the day of the event as well, so please use it as a landmark. 
At the very end of the narrow street, you will see OKUNO on your left. Please look for this exterior as your final landmark.
We have also put together a short video showing the route from Kintetsu Nara Station to OKUNO.
We hope you find it helpful.
(* Music will play.)
As this will be our first Basketry Exhibition & Sale in Nara,
we have been preparing every day so that we can bring as many baskets as possible.
On the day, we hope to fill the OKUNO space with baskets from wall to wall.
If you are visiting Nara during Silver Week, we would be delighted if you stopped by.
【Payment Methods】
The same payment methods available at our shop in Minami-Senju, Tokyo, will also be available at this event.
Cash payments will be accepted, but as this is a temporary sales event, we would appreciate it if you could use cashless payment methods whenever possible, such as credit cards, QR code payments, or electronic money.
The payment methods shown here will be available on the day of the event. 
You can also earn Rakuten Points on your purchases. Any Rakuten Points you have already accumulated can also be used toward payment.
Finally, this section is a little long,
but we have a few important notes and requests for everyone planning to visit us on the day.
We would appreciate it if you could take a moment to read through them before your visit.
【1) During Busy Periods】
As we will have a limited number of staff on the day,
there may be times when you need to wait a little for checkout or assistance with products during busy periods.
We will assist everyone in order, and we appreciate your understanding.
【2) Please Bring a Reusable Bag and Help with Packing】
If possible, we would appreciate it if you could bring a larger reusable shopping bag with you.
After checkout, we would also appreciate your help with packing your purchases into your own bag.
Paper bags will also be available for a fee, but quantities will be limited.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
【3) Product Reservations】
We are not accepting advance reservations for products.
However, if there is an item you would especially like to see at the Nara event, please feel free to let us know.
If the item is in stock, we will do our best to bring it to the venue.
【4) Shipping Your Purchases】
We can also arrange shipping for items purchased at the venue.
If you would like to use this service, please let us know at checkout.
Shipping fees will be charged separately.
Purchased items will first be brought back to our shop in Minami-Senju, Tokyo,
and will be shipped gradually from Friday, September 25 onward.
Please note that it may therefore take a little extra time for your order to arrive.
【5) Photography and Video Recording】
For photography, we kindly ask that you limit it to around one photo showing the overall atmosphere of the venue.
Please refrain from photographing individual products without permission, and from recording videos.
【6) Online Shop Orders, Shipping, and Inquiries】
Our online shop will continue to accept orders as usual during the Nara event.
However, due to preparations for and participation in the event, shipping and responses to inquiries will be suspended from Wednesday, September 16 through Thursday, September 24.
Orders and inquiries received during this period will be handled in order beginning Friday, September 25.
Please note that responses and shipping may take longer than usual.
【7) Opening Schedule for Our Minami-Senju Shop in Tokyo】
Due to our Basketry Exhibition & Sale in Nara, our shop in Minami-Senju, Tokyo, will be closed from Friday, September 18 through Friday, September 25.
After the event, we plan to open the shop on Saturday, September 26, Sunday, September 27, and Monday, September 28.
These opening days differ from our usual schedule.
If you are planning to visit, please check the dates in advance.
We hope you will take the opportunity to experience in person the sense of scale, texture of the materials,
and even their subtle scent—qualities that can be difficult to fully convey online.
If there is anything you would like to know about the baskets, or if you have any questions,
please feel free to speak with us.
We are sincerely looking forward to seeing you in Nara.
You can read the journal introducing our upcoming event in Nara here.
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1basketry | Basketry Exhibition & Sale in Nara
Five days to experience and explore baskets made from natural materials in person.
Dates: Saturday, September 19 – Wednesday, September 23, 2026
［5 days］
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue
45-2 Takamacho, Nara 630-8241, Japan
Approx. 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station / Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Nara Station
Tel: +81-742-93-6607
(Tuesday–Saturday, 12:00 PM–5:00 PM. Calls are answered by arica.)
* Please note that parking is not available. Kindly use nearby paid parking facilities.
* The lane leading to OKUNO is very narrow, and vehicles cannot enter.
