Day 10: Nara

Nara was Japan’s capital before Kyoto, from 710 to 794.

Nara Hotel

Breakfast (included in the stay) was in the main dining room, at a table with a view.

Breakfast Breakfast

They delivered an English newspaper to my room, the Japan Times. It has a page on learning Japanese. Random coincidence that there was an article mentioning Einstein.

Newspaper

The hotel.

Nara Hotel Nara Hotel

From the hotel I walked to Nara Park. There’s a pond on the way and a nice view.

Ara-ike The Deer of Nara

The Deer of Nara

History and temples and shrines are neat, but let’s be honest: the real reason people come to Nara is for the deer. About 1,200 wild deer live here and just hang out (mostly, it seems, hoping the humans will feed them). They are protected and registered as national treasures—the history of them in Nara goes back a thousand years and they are thought to be messengers from the gods. Killing them used to be a capital offense punishable by death. It is still illegal to hurt them, but I suspect you won’t be executed.

The Deer of Nara The Deer of NaraThe Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara

Most of the time they’re docile, but sometimes you’ve got to watch out for them.

The Deer of Nara

You just have to love them.

The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara

I wonder if they obey the crossing signals? (Answer: no. Later I saw one crossing on a red and all of the cars had to stop and wait for it.)

The Deer of Nara

They clearly aren’t afraid of people. You could go up and pet them.

The Deer of Nara Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji The Deer of Nara

When you buy deer food, they’re instantly on to you. I bought a stack of deer crackers, and before I could get the tape off of the bundle a group of deer were “attacking” me: nipping at my legs, the bag I had with me, head-butting me…they weren’t going to leave me alone until I was out of crackers!

The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara Todai-ji

Todai Temple

Todai-ji is the site of the world’s largest wooden structure, which contains Japan’s largest statue of Buddha.

Here’s the entrance to the temple grounds.

The Deer of Nara Todai-ji

And here’s Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), the largest wooden structure.

Todai-ji Todai-ji

And the giant Buddha inside, along with his friends (I’m sure there’s some technical term for Buddha’s friends).

Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji

A model of the original template area.

Todai-ji

Miscellaneous artifacts inside Daibutsuden.

Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji

And outside.

Todai-ji Todai-ji Todai-ji

More deer!

The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara The Deer of Nara

Kasuga Taisha

Next I walked to the shrine Kasuga Taisha, founded in 768. The pathway is lined with lanterns; there are at least a couple thousand lanterns throughout the shrine precincts.

Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha Kasuga TaishaKasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha

Deer have been living with the people in Nara for a long time. You see the deer motif everywhere.

Kasuga Taisha

Of course the deer hang out amongst the lanterns.

Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha

Random pictures around the shrine.

Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha Kasuga Taisha

And more deer!

More Deer More Deer More Deer More Deer

These ones want ice cream.

More Deer More Deer More Deer

Back to Osaka

I walked back to the hotel, picked up my bags, and since it was a nice sunny day and I had some time, I made the trek back to the station on foot. The old Nara Station building is in front of the new Nara Station building.

Nara Station Nara Station

I caught the Nara Line train back to Kyoto. The Nara Line has no English announcements or signs once you’re on the train, but it’s easy enough to figure it out since Nara is the last stop on one side and Kyoto is the last stop on the other side.

Nara Station Nara Line

From Kyoto I hopped on the next train to Osaka (just a 15 minute journey) where I’ll stay for the night. I went out and found some dinner.

Dinner in Osaka

Tomorrow I might hit up an aquarium here in Osaka, then it’s back on the Shinkansen for the three-hour ride to Tokyo where I’ll spend the last two nights of my stay in Japan.


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