nara (june 2007)

we visited Nara on a daytrip from Kyoto

the kofukuji temple, with its five story pagoda, is a world heritage site

check the cartoon version


Nara is famous for the "semi-wild" or "tame" deer that roam about the park (the guidebook says there are 1000s).

they were originally regarded as divine messengers of one of the shinto gods and now are a tourist attraction.


the deer were not wary of humans (in part because we feed them deer biscuits sold by local vendors).
one result is you see fantastic deer cleaning tricks



in june, Nara also has lots of school kids


including some who pestered, and petted, the deer



ignoring the angry deer warnings


the juxtaposition was interesting



the todaiji temple, "the largest wooden building in the world," is another world heritage site

it houses a huge buddha

and a model of the temple which shows how it looks on the two days each year when they open the top windows to reveal the buddha


inside they had this politely worded sign


Pindola sits outfront

the explanation is interesting


kasuga taisha shrine, yet another world heritage site, is famous for its lanterns


there is a 1000 year old japanese cedar tree in the courtyard of the shrine

with a chinese juniper tree growing out of its roots and through the roof of one of the buildings

i love that they commemorate this with a sign rather than cutting it down


nearby, i found this torii


and this sign and tree



vendors sold cutsie deer products all over the site




and deer were featured in ads


and on stone lanterns