Our last guided tour was of Nara, just an hour’s train ride from Kyoto. We used another Goodwill Guide, and as before, she was wonderful and a wealth of information. Nara would be one of the highlights of the trip. There was a lot to see in Nara, and while we couldn’t do it all, we had a full day.
Our guide met us at the train station, and we took a bus to the area of the Todaiji Temple. A feature of this part of Nara are the deer that roam the streets. They are protected, and have come to know the tourists (and their treats) well. They will come right up to you, and are comfortable with you petting them. After visiting the very impressive Big Buddha Hall, we visited the Nigatsu-do Hall that overlooks the city of Nara. After a stop for lunch, we walked on to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine with it’s thousands of lanterns (and deer). From there we visited the older Naramachi area (Nara Town), the former merchant district with traditional residential buildings and shops. Our last spot was the Sarusawa-ike Pond. Here we bid goodbye to our wonderful guide and we headed back to the train station as dusk brought out the lights of the city. Nara is a wonderful city, and a must-see on any trip to Japan. We felt lucky that we had included it on this trip.
The first (of MANY) deer that greeted us in Nara. The deer are looking to be fed, and there were any number of carts selling “biscuits” for the deer.
Our guide explaining how to feed the deer while keeping the biscuits held high, out of their reach.
Being inundated by hungry deer, and then running away empty-handed after dropping the biscuits when the deer got a little too aggressive.
The entrance to the Todaiji Temple – the Nandaimon Gate.
The Big Buddha Hall, “the world's largest wooden building, despite the fact that the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size” that was originally built in 752.
The bronze lantern outside the hall, which is original having survived the 2 fires that destroyed the previous versions of the great hall.
The giant bronze buddha statue, one of Japan’s largest, flanked by one of two Bodhisattvas.
These formidable guardians are only 2 of the original 4 wooden scultpures that protect the Buddha.
The giant Buddha, surrounded by smaller Buddha statues.
This odd fellow sat outside the big hall. He’s Binzuru, a healer (and a drinker). “It is thought if you rub the part of the statue that corresponds to the part of the body that is ailing, it will be cured.” I guess the guy in the picture had a bad knee.
A huge bell, that is still rung daily, on our walk up to Nigatsu-do Hall.
Nigatsu-do Hall, up still more stairs.
The view from Nigatsu-do Hall, with the city of Nara in the distance. Well worth the climb.
Fountain outside of Nigatsu-do Hall.
A bridge leading to Kasuga Taisha shrine.
Detail from the bridge railing.
Lanterns hanging outside the hall. Lanterns are a big part of this shrine – it is home to thousands of them in many different forms, but mostly stone.
Main building of the shrine.
Some of the thousands of stone lanterns. Once a year they are all lit with candles.
A nori gate leading to a small shrine.
This shrine is a romantic shrine, and plaques can be bought, inscribed, and hung to bring you luck. We thought this was a cute one.
Part of the tradition is to buy these papers, and soak them in the water from a well. A fortune or message will appear.
In the old commercial district, homes were built with a store at the front, with living quarters behind and above. These small shops now tend to specialize in only one thing. This shop sold sake.
This shop was selling these stylized red monkeys that we saw in many places. Another shop sold only salt. (But many kinds of salt, and all kinda pricey.)
Inside one of these traditional townhouses, and now a museum, with the front room that would be setup to talk business.
Inside the house, with an exterior garden in the middle.
Looking out to the backyard, and the store room at the back of the property. With the properties being taxed on the width of their frontage, properties tended to be very narrow, but very deep.
And in the middle of these townhouses, was a shrine.
This memorial for the ladies of the night that worked in the old town represents a boat that would take them to the sea. (Or something like that, I’m not sure anymore.)
The Sarusawa-ike pond that reflects the Kofukuji Temple 5-story pagoda.
A shopping street of modern Nara, on our way back to the train, and our ride back to Kyoto.
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