The Polite Deer of Nara, Japan

This post will be on the first of the 3 major cities of the Kansai region that I visited (Nara, Kyoto and Osaka). Kansai region located on the south side of the Honshu Island, the largest island of Japan. The city of Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture. The city occupies the northern part of the prefecture, bordering Kyoto Prefecture.

Waiting for the train

The train ticket from Osaka to Nara, Y470

The public bus circling the city clock-wise and anticlock-wise.

The entrance to Todai-ji

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage site cover eight popular temples, shrines and ruins, namely the Todai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kofuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gango-ji, Yakushi-ji, Toshodai-ji, and the Heijo Palace, including the Kasugayama Primeval Forest.

The Kofuku-ji, the five story pagoda.

Todai-ji (Great Eastern Temple) is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan. Along the approach to Todaiji stands the Nandaimon Gate, a large wooden gate watched over by two fierce looking statues. Representing the Nio Guardian Kings, the statues are designated national treasures together with the gate itself.

View of Todai-ji from the outer gate.

The Nandaimon gate, the great south gate.

O-mikuji, the random fortunes written on strips of papers

One uniqueness of Nara is the freely exploring deers. Visiting Nara in autumn, you can hear the deer roaming in the park. According to the legendary history of Kasuga Shrine, the god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Heijō-kyō. Since then the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country. The polite shika deer roam through the town, especially in Nara Park. Snack vendors sell deer crackers (shika senbei) visitors so they can feed the deer.

Later before I ended the day and went back to Osaka, I just have a short sightseeing of the shops in the city centre. The next post will be on the visit to Kyoto :-)

Jinrikisha, rickshaw for getting around in Nara

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