Today was a beautiful day. The sun was out and it took most of the chill out of the air. We left the hotel around 11Am and headed to Nara. Nara was the first capital of Japan.
Getting around on the train was interesting. We did a really good job and didn't get lost at all. The ride from Osaka to Nara was about 45 minutes. On the way out a Japanese man came up and asked Steve if he would mind having a conversation with him - he said he wanted to practice his English. We talked about sports and NASCAR as well as where he lived, went to school, and grew up. His English was very good.
Once in Nara we walked up a small street lined with shops to the historical area. The shops were cute and you could buy anything from toys to brushes for Japanese writing to various food items. We did a little bit of shopping and wandering around.
At the top of the street is a beautiful park surrounding a number of historical buildings. We walked around snapping pictures as we went. The park is home to about 1,200 deer. They wander all over the place. Allowing the deer to roam the grounds dates back to pre-Buddhist times when they were considered messengers of the gods and they now have status as National Treasures. You can buy deer toys and deer biscuits from vendors scattered throughout the park. The biscuits look like cookies - I could see someone mistaking them for people food.
The Todai Ji Temple is the main attraction of the park. It is home to the world's largest wooden structure - Daibutsu-den Hall - a huge building housing an enormous Buddha. On the way to the temple you pass through Nandai-mon - an enormous gate. The gate contains two huge Nio Guardians - considered to be the finest wood statues in all of Japan, if not the world.
The present day Daibutsu-den Hall, rebuilt in 1709, is only two-thirds the size of the original building. It houses the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha, one of the largest bronze castings in the world. The statue is around 50 feet tall and contains 437 tons of bronze. Over the centuries it has taken a beating from earthquakes and fires, having lost it's head several times.
One of the wooden columns in the Hall has a hole in it's base that is exactly the size of one of the Great Buddha's nostrils. It is thought that if you pass through the hole you are ensured enlightenment. While we watched an old man wriggled his way through, a young man tried and gave up, and tons of kids zipped through.
After visiting the Temple we made our way back to the train station. Along the way we found a Starbucks - friend to hungry world travelers. They always take Visa, they have good food, and they are open round the clock. We enjoyed some sandwiches and mocha cappucinos. Yum!
Here are some pictures from today...
Cool building at the park entrance.
Me in Nara.
Some of the National Treasure Deer.
Approaching the temple gate.
Nio Guardians at the Entrance to the Todai Ji Temple.
Daibutsu-den Hall.
Passing through Buddha's nostril.
The great Buddha.
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