Rest Area (Nara Prefecture Historical and Artistic Culture Complex) — Attraction in Tenri

A brand new cultural complex combing history, art and local products. History wing has cultural property preservation center as well as the floor dedicated to special exhibition, which is usually free of charge. Art wing has a professional level music hall and workshop space for kids program as well as exhibition area for established artists. Market place has local craft shops, produce and gift items and one Tonkatsu restaurant, which is always busy. So far away from everything else, 300 yen bus ride from Tenri station, i would have loved to have a cafe or Japanese sweets shop to sit down and relax. But for now, bring your own and take an advantage of free seating area on the deck outside of that busy Tonkatsu restaurant, to enjoy gorgeous view of...

My recommendation would be to eat lunch there — I had breakfast which was very heartily yummy, but it was essentially the pork broth miso soup that is served in their lunch set — I had a later breakfast so the lunch crowd that came in on the door at 11am ordered beautiful lunch sets of fried breaded prawn and pork fillets.

In the same building in the adjacent space to the eatery is a gift shop selling local produce and sweets, and a separate carpentry shop. The Nara-based crafts / carpentry featured in the shop are wonderful so do check...

With a museum, shop, restaurant, and a hotel, the parking lot was a busy place. I can't say anything about the restaurant nor the hotel, but the shop is quite expensive. The museum is nice though, with large windows to show with spaces of actual restoration work going on currently, and other pieces with the collaboration from various...