Nara - Blogabond

Went to Nara today, famous for its many deer (about 1200, they were worshiped as messengers of the gods before Buddhism spread in Japan and since then held dearly), the largest wooden building of the world and its massive bronze Buddha (Daibutsu). Activated my JRP and withdrew some money beforehand and had a great breakfast (sushi ekiben).

After arriving I picked up a map and started my tour, the Nara-koen makes a great half-day hike from sight to sight.

Oh, and the mascot of Nara, Sento-kun, is omnipresent, you literally see him everywhere.

Isui-en

Started off at the Isui-en garden, pretty big and truly beautiful.
Pictures:

Isui-en

Continued to the Daibutsu-den then, the huge wooden building containing the great Daibutsu.

Nandai-mon

You enter the area trough the massive Nandai-mon, containing two fierce looking guardians, said to be two of the finest statues of all Japan. One could actually expect them to spring to life.
Trough the gate and you are near the main hall:

Daibutsu-den Hall

The building was rebuild in 1709 and is now a mere two thirds of its original size. That two thirds still make it the biggest wooden building of the world, though.

Daibutsu

The Daibutsu itself is made of 437 tonnes of bronze and 130kg of gold and of course dominating the hall.

Pictures can't really be used to represent the dimensions we are dealing with here, and spamming superlatives probably won't help.

Behind the Daibutsu is a pillar with a hole in it, exactly the size of one of the nostrils of the great Buddha. It is said that those who fit through there are definitively going to reach enlightenment. Its the perfect size for kids. (Read as: There are lines of kids waiting to try their luck and lines of parents waiting to snap their pictures.)

The temples and shrines of Japan rely heavily on donations and sell good luck charms and the such. Also you can buy a wooden plate or a great candle on which you write your wish. These are burned by the monks in order for the wishes to be fulfilled. There are many different versions of this, the Daibutsu-den is selling roof tiles to be used in reconstruction.

Wandered the premises after leaving the hall. There are a great many temples, shrines and gardens in the area, I won't bore you with those.
Some pictures of the park though:

Nara-koen

One hall had this warning, pretty interesting way of putting things, no?

Well, by now you probably ask yourself: "Where are the deer?". Here you go:

Stag with twisted horns

Many deer, many droppings

Deer

Stalking stag

Deer and senbei-seller

Moveset of the common deer

There are special deer-crackers on sale for 150yen to feed them with. Got stalked by one after buying a pack. That's by the way the only thing that will attract them like in the headline-picture, once they know you got no more, they are gone.

Nara is a must-see on every trip in the Kansai-area and is thus frequented by tourist groups and school classes. There were many groups like that, but the hall is enormous and if you wait for a few minutes you can enjoy the sight in peace. If you don't happen to carry anything resembling deer food, that is.

So long and stay tuned,
JuergenS

written by

JuergenS on July 22, 2010 from Nara, Japan

from the travel blog: Two month of Japan

Send a Compliment

comment on this...