Nara was Japan's capital from 710 to 785 |
Nara Kintetsu Station is reachable in about 40 minutes from Osaka-Namba Station |
Nara Station |
Nara license plate |
Arcade near Nara Kintetsu Station |
Arcade near Nara Kintetsu Station |
Japanese cub scouts, Nara |
Japanese cub scouts and scoutmaster |
Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
3-story pagoda from 1143, Kofuku-ji |
Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
Nan-endu, the octagonal South Hall, originally built in 813 A.D., Kofuku-ji Temple |
Nan-endu, the octagonal South Hall, rebuilt 1741, Kofuku-ji Temple |
Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
Dragon water fountain, Kofuku-ji |
Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
5-story pagoda from 1426, Kofuku-ji Temple |
At 50m/165ft, his is the 2nd tallest pagoda in Japan |
Detail of the 1426 pagoda at Kofuku-ji |
5-story pagoda, Kofuku-ji |
Kofuku-ji Temple |
To-kondo, the East Hall, rebuilt in 1415, Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
Kofuku-ji Temple |
Pagoda of Kofuku-ji |
Pagoda of Kofuku-ji |
Pagoda of Kofuku-ji |
Painter in Nara |
He's painting the pagoda at Kofuku-ji |
Near Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara |
Map of Nara-koen Park |
You can get around the park in a rickshaw |
Hand-pulled rickshaw, Nara |
Nara is famous for the tame deer wandering in the temples of Nara-koen Park |
The bucks have their antlers removed |
Shops on the road to Todai-ji Temple |
The deer can be quite insistant |
Shop by Todai-ji Temple |
The Buddha of Todai-ji Temple |
Shop in Nara |
Replica samurai swords in a Nara giftshop |
Nara, Japan |
Nara |
Great South Gate to Todai-Ji Temple, Nara |
Several of the temples in Nara are World Heritage Sites, including Todai-Ji |
Todai-Ji Temple and surrounding park, Nara |
Nandaimon Gate, rebuilt 1199 A.D., Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
13th C. Nio guardian, Nandaimon Gate |
Shame about the chicken wire... |
Kagami-ike Pool and Daibutsuden Hall, Todai-ji Temple |
Todai-ji Temple is the home of the Buddhist Kegon sect |
Chu-mon Gate, Todai-ji Temple |
Paper lantern, Todai-ji |
Hall of the Great Buddha (Daibutsuden), Todai-ji Temple, rebuilt 1709 |
Daibutsuden, Todai-ji Temple |
This is the largest wooden building in the world |
8th C. octagonal bronze lantern, Tempyo period |
The Great Buddha, Daibutsu, of Todai-ji represents Birushana |
Largest Buddha in Japan, 16m/53ft high |
Largest bronze statue in the world, the Daibutsu weighs 437 tons. |
Right hand raised in the promise of peace (semui-no-in) |
The left hand is in the position of the fulfillment of wishes (yogan-no-in) |
Gilded wooden halo with the 16 incarnations of Buddha |
Kokuzo-bosatsu, 17th C. |
Kokuzo-bosatsu, divinity of wisdom and fortune, Hall of the Great Buddha |
Koumoku-ten, ruler of the west, one of the 4 celestial guardians |
Tamon-ten, another of the 4 celestial guardians |
Nyoirin-Kannon, fulfiller of all wishes |
Nyoirin-Kannon, Hall of the Great Buddha |
Nyoirin-Kannon, fulfiller of all wishes |
Calligraphy in the Daibutsuden, Todai-ji |
Seated figure of Binzuru, said to have curative powers |
Cloister surrounding the Hall of the Great Buddha, Todai-ji Temple |
Daibutsuden Hall cloister |
This must be a gift from India |
Gate in Nara Koen Park |
Sorin (set of treasures) from the 7-story pagoda at Expo '70 |
Bell tower, Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
The 2nd largest bell in Japan, 749 A.D., recast in 1239 |
Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
Roe Deer, Nara |
Roe deer faun nursing, Nara |
Deer warning, Nara Koen Park |
Souvenir shop, Nara |
Souvenir shop, Nara |
Stone Lanterns, Todai-ji Temple's eastern precinct |
Kaizan-do Hall, Todai-ji Temple |
Small hall near Nigatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
Senju Kannon, Todai-ji Temple |
Dragon water fountain, Todai-ji Temple |
Dragon water fountain, Todai-ji Temple |
Nigatsu-do (Second Month Hall), rebuilt 1699 |
Nigatsu-do |
Nigatsu-do |
View from the terrace of the Nigatsu-do (Hall of the Second Month) |
Nigatsu-do (Hall of the Second Month), Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
Stone markers, Todai-ji Temple, Nara |
Sangatsu-do (Second Month Hall) the oldest building at Todai-ji Temple, 733 A.D. |
Sangatsu-do (Second Month Hall) contains numerous ancient statues |
Fukukenjaku-Kannon |
8th C. National treasures, Sangatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple |
Sangatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple |
National treasures, Sangatsu-do |
Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine, Nara |
Roe deer sprouting antlers |
Gift shop, Nara |
Roe deer in front of Mt. Wakakusayama (342m) |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Newborn at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Newborn at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Fortune teller booths, Kasuga Tortune teller, Kasuga Taisha Shrine%22C Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara |
Fortune teller, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Japan |
Stone lanterns, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara |
Stone Lanterns, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
The Nara deer are said to be divine messengers |
Deer fountain at Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Sake, Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Sake, Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Homotsu-den (Treasure Hall) Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Sword exhibition at the Kasuga Taisha treasure hall |
Kasuga Taisha Shrine |
Write your wish |
Hang it by the temple |
Some are not so reverent |
Nara deer |
Rickshaw, Nara |
Rickshaw, Nara |
Nara National Museum |
Nara National Museum |
Nara National Museum |
Buddhist library, part of the Nara National Museum complex |
Lane in old Nara |
Posters in Nara |
Narrow road in Nara |
Round window on a shop in Nara |
Shopping arcade, Nara |
Japanese restaurant, Nara |
Cafe, Nara |
Nara manhole cover |
Nara |
Roadside beer machine, Nara |
Minor temple in Nara |
Nara's main shopping area, Sandojori |
Preparing Yomogimochi (steamed rice paste mixed with the yomogi herb). |
I have to wonder how often he's gotten his hand smashed |
Rolling the Yomogimochi into balls |
The finished product |
Small restaurant near Nara Station with displays of plastic food |
Pichenko hall near Nara Station |
Modern hand-shaped chair for sale, Nara |
Roadsign in Nara for Osaka and Kyoto |