Brad Templeton's Photography
Nara

Nara

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.

The five-storey pagoda of Kofuku-ji, part of the world heritage site.
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The five-storey pagoda of Kofuku-ji, part of the world heritage site.
Nara's trademark deer are totally tame.  You have to force food on them.
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Nara's trademark deer are totally tame. You have to force food on them.
The famous Todai-ji temple, with giant Buddha inside
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The famous Todai-ji temple, with giant Buddha inside
Yes, those deer are tame.
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Yes, those deer are tame.
That's one big Buddha.    It dates from 752 and is solid bronze.  The head was repaired recently in 1692.
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That's one big Buddha. It dates from 752 and is solid bronze. The head was repaired recently in 1692.
One of the guardian deities of Buddhism at the corners.  I think this is Tamonten
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One of the guardian deities of Buddhism at the corners. I think this is Tamonten
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.
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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.
The Buddha and a metal flower
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The Buddha and a metal flower
The outside of the Yakitori we are led to.  As you can see, it's not large
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The outside of the Yakitori we are led to. As you can see, it's not large
Todai-ji Temple in fall
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Todai-ji Temple in fall
The gate to Todai-ji, with the temple framed in the portal
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The gate to Todai-ji, with the temple framed in the portal
Kofuku-ji at night
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Kofuku-ji at night
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.)
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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.)

Lost in Japan Index

Modern Kyoto | Old Kyoto | Nara | Driving to Mie | Leonid Meteor Storm
Miyajima | Hiroshima | West Honshu | Takayama | Tsukiji Fish Market
Ginza | Modern Tokyo | Tokyo (Misc) | Bridges of Tokyo 12 | Tokyo-above