Nara was the really ancient capital of Japan, before Kyoto. The temples
there are from the 8th century, and quite impressive. It's a nice city
with a lovely park, tons of free-range deer, and the city in which we
first stayed in a Ryokan, which we quite enjoyed.
It's also where we rented the car for our meteor trip, which is
described on the next page.
Nara is a city that's easy to explore on foot. We could have seen more of
it but were also spending a lot of time preparing for the meteor trip and
checking weather on the internet.
 | | (768 x 1024 - 51K) |
The five-storey pagoda of Kofuku-ji, part of the world heritage site.
| |
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 172K) |
Nara's trademark deer are totally tame. You have to force food on them.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 126K) |
The famous Todai-ji temple, with giant Buddha inside
|
 | | (1280 x 960 - 124K) |
Yes, those deer are tame.
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 105K) |
That's one big Buddha. It dates from 752 and is solid bronze. The head was repaired recently in 1692.
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 76K) |
One of the guardian deities of Buddhism at the corners. I think this is Tamonten
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 62K) |
This pillar has a hole in it. It is said if you climb through, you reach Nirvana. Nirvana is much easier for children and Japanese women than it is for me.
|
 | | (1280 x 884 - 156K) |
The Buddha and a metal flower
| |
 | | (768 x 1024 - 75K) |
The outside of the Yakitori we are led to. As you can see, it's not large
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 104K) |
Todai-ji Temple in fall
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 162K) |
The gate to Todai-ji, with the temple framed in the portal
|
 | sIMG_5343.JPG
(768 x 1024 - 74K) |
Kofuku-ji at night
| |
 | sIMG_5345.JPG
(1280 x 960 - 151K) |
Yakitori are the pubs of Japan. The Okamisan at our Ryokan had the old man there lead us to this. It was tiny but great. At the back are a Japanese E-N-T doctor and his wife, and beside us are a Japanese Rock Band playing in town that night. They play the Stones and the Beatles (of course.)
|
