Train
to Nara
Next stop for us was Nara, birthplace of Japanese culture and first capital (710-784). In fact there are so many fascinating and ancient sites, the area is UNESCO Heritage listed. Interestingly for us, this city was the eastern-most stop of the famed Silk Road, the ancient trading route between Asia and Europe. (We have since been following another section of this famous route on our Turkey travels in Bursa last year.)
Making good use of the train station across the road from our hotel, we took a local train (a 45 minute ride) to start our walking tour of this very famous city. We did our best and covered (in no particular order):
The building the Buddha is housed in dates from 746 and its dark, solid time framework adds to the overall mood. The columns are so huge, that one with a hole at the base attracted a line of giggling school children waiting in turn to squeeze through it. It is believed that those that can make it are ensured enlightenment.
Perhaps that’s a good thing when your only 10!
The deer were certainly not afraid to demand food. Warning - keep your bag closed! We walked our legs off yet managed to only cover a small area of this attractive 1250 acre parklands.
Deep in the park is the Kasuga Shrine. It is considered the most beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara, and features some 3000 antique stone and bronze lanterns; a real feast for our eyes.
On our way back to the station through streets lined with
fluttery leafed Ginko trees, we paused to look at a local pottery shop and then
admire the beautiful Kofuku-ji Temple
(710) with its distinctive three and five storey pagodas or tiered towers.
A typical Japanese pagoda has a square plan, rises 3 or 5 storeys and supports a spire of Rings of Heaven. The ground floor is usually used for shrines and images, whilst upper floors provided observation platforms. Each level is suspended around a central pole which allowed it to resist earth tremors.
Another busy day - another train ride back to Kyoto....
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| Beautiful Gardens in Nara |
Next stop for us was Nara, birthplace of Japanese culture and first capital (710-784). In fact there are so many fascinating and ancient sites, the area is UNESCO Heritage listed. Interestingly for us, this city was the eastern-most stop of the famed Silk Road, the ancient trading route between Asia and Europe. (We have since been following another section of this famous route on our Turkey travels in Bursa last year.)
Making good use of the train station across the road from our hotel, we took a local train (a 45 minute ride) to start our walking tour of this very famous city. We did our best and covered (in no particular order):
 |
| Temple Ticket |
 |
| Amazing building - always busy |
Todai-ji
Temple houses the Great Buddha, a huge bronze statue, in an
even larger wooden building. This
charming, yet mysterious Great Buddha stands 16m (50') high and dates from the Edo
period. There were earlier versions of Cosmic
Buddha, sadly destroyed over the centuries by fire and earthquake. This current
one, all 437 tonnes of him, is still quite magnificent.
The building the Buddha is housed in dates from 746 and its dark, solid time framework adds to the overall mood. The columns are so huge, that one with a hole at the base attracted a line of giggling school children waiting in turn to squeeze through it. It is believed that those that can make it are ensured enlightenment.
Perhaps that’s a good thing when your only 10!
 |
| Deer have Right of Way & Insatiable Appetites |
 |
| Surprise! We know where you store those goodies! |
On our way out, we passed the fierce temple guardians,
bronze statues cast by the famous master, Unkei (1150-1223) and headed through
the famous Isui-en Garden (Meji Era) and on to the Deer Park. As we strolled we
were met by lots of tame Sika deer, said to be messengers of Shinto gods.
The deer were certainly not afraid to demand food. Warning - keep your bag closed! We walked our legs off yet managed to only cover a small area of this attractive 1250 acre parklands.
Deep in the park is the Kasuga Shrine. It is considered the most beautiful Shinto shrine in Nara, and features some 3000 antique stone and bronze lanterns; a real feast for our eyes.
A typical Japanese pagoda has a square plan, rises 3 or 5 storeys and supports a spire of Rings of Heaven. The ground floor is usually used for shrines and images, whilst upper floors provided observation platforms. Each level is suspended around a central pole which allowed it to resist earth tremors.
Another busy day - another train ride back to Kyoto....
