Nara

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Nara is the site of the largest Buddha in Japan, the Daibutsu.  The temple of Todaiji is the largest wooden building in the world and the Buddha inside is the largest bronze building in the world.  Nara is also famous for its large population of deer that wander around the temple grounds.  For a small fee, you can buy “deer biscuits”  and feed them.  We went to Nara on the same day as Kobe so we got there pretty late in the day.  We arrived at the station at 4:15 and found out that the last admittance to the temple was at 5PM and it several miles away!  Instead of taking the tourist bus, we ran outside, jumped in a taxi, got stuck in traffic, and arrived just before the gates were closing…just behind several busloads of school children!  The cool thing was that after the school children departed, for a few moments we pretty much had the massive temple complex to ourselves.

The temple complex at Nara was beautiful but it was bitter sweet because we knew we were approaching the end of our stay in Japan.  We headed back to Osaka where we finished up some last minute errands, including buying some Japanese fresh spray.  We had found this amazing spray in nearly every hotel room.  A few sprays on a slightly worn shirt and laundry becomes unnecessary.  I think it is provided for travelling businessmen who spend their evenings in smoke filled Izakayas and then have to go to meetings in their same suit in the morning.  It worked perfectly for us though!

We went out for one last dinner in Osaka (fresh oysters, sushi boats, and then some natto okonamiyaki and tempura at an izakaya).  This is where we discovered the automatic perfect beer pouring machine.  The bartender sets the cup on a small platform under the tap, and the platform raises to a 45 degree angle.  Then as the beer starts pouring, at automatically rotates down until it is flat.  Perfect head every time!   We got home late, grabbed a few hours sleep, then took a mad dash to the airport.  I ran to the softbank booth, threw my SIM card on the counter and then we sprinted to the AirAsia checkin line which they were just starting to close.  They let us check in though so we were now off to Bali!

+Gallery
  • Todaiji with school schildren
  • Daibutsu at Todaiji
  • H.R. Giger Budha
  • Adam at work
  • Huge wood guardian at Todaiji
  • Daibutsu at Todaiji
  • Adam and Amanda at Todaiji
  • Adam and Amanda at Todaiji
  • Deer butts in Nara
  • School children feeding the deer
  • Amanda feeding the deer in Nara
  • Amanda feeding the deer in Nara
  • Amanda feeding the deer in Nara
  • Mmm… deer biscuits
  • School children feeding the deer
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Posted: May 12, 2012

Author: Adam and Amanda

Category: Asia, Blog, Continents, Japan

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