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Nara-koen (Nara Park) has a herd of about 1200 deer that roam throughout the park. There are little dispensers (like candy machines) all over the park where you can put in three 50-yen coins and get some food for the deer. The little guy below was pretty worried about hand-feeding this fawn.
It's a good thing this park is not in the US. I could easily imagine a hunter "bagging" a 12-point buck.
Todai-ji is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, and the central building (Daibatsu-den) is the largest wooden structures in the world. The picture below is just the entry gate, known as Nandai-mon. It has some fierce statues in each side, called Nio Guardians that were carved in the 13th century by the sculptor Unkei.
As you can tell from the size of the people in the picture, Todai-ji is huge. The amazing thing is that this building was rebuilt in 1709 after a fire destroyed the first one. The rebuilt temple is only two-thirds the size of the first one!
Inside the Todai-ji is the Daibatsu (the Great Buddha). It's a little over 16 meters high. So pay attention to the Buddha's head and especially the nose. See how small the nostrils on the nose seem from this picture angle?
Towards the back of the Great Buddha is a column with a hole cut out (see below). This hole is the size of one of the Great Buddha's nostrils. If you can squeeze through this hole in the wooden column, you are ensure of enlightenment. It was a riot watching all of the people who wriggled through this hole! These two guys were pretty spry for their age, and I must say that enlightenment is on the way for both of them.
In Nara, there is a great Japanese garden known as Isui-en, which dates from the Meiji era. Every view is fantastic. Small hidden areas where you can peacefully sit and contemplate your navel.
A view of the tea-house in Isui-en.
Well, that's it for Nara. It was a great few days there. Next we show some pictures from a day trip we took to Kyoto while we stayed in Nara.
Thanks for reading!
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