We had so much fun with Yuko and learned so much! She welcomed us into her beautiful home, taught us about local cuisine, and led us in a completely interactive activity that culminated in a delicious lunch of local specialties that we had cooked together! We enjoyed the meal in a beautiful traditional Japanese room, decorated with, among other lovely objects, ikebana made by her husband. If you are daunted by the fact that her house is not in Nara proper, never fear: it’s just a few stops away by the convenient local train. This experience is totally worth the effort it takes to reach her house. Our menu: pressed sushi with various fillings, sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, somen noodles in lovely dashi broth, egg roll (tamago), and a delicious dessert very like flan, but made with roasted soybean flour. Yuko speaks good English so you will understand her instructions quite easily if you are American. Yuko also made some wonderful recommendations for local attractions that we would not have discovered otherwise. She is a great ambassador for this region.