Day 9 - Travelogue Nara - Deer, Pikachu Donut, Daibutsu Temple, Kasuga-Taisha, Kohfukuji Temple

Back to Day 8 - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit

I had a giant bowl of instant udon noodles, buttered raisin buns, strawberries, and hot instant coffee for breakfast today.  It was an easy way to kick start my day from yesterday's groceries.

I wanted to visit Nijo Castle today, but it turned out that it was closed on Mondays. This Monday closure for many museums and palaces caught me twice on this trip. I wasn't planning on visiting the NE or the Western temples, so I decided to head to Nara instead.  This was exciting as I had never been to Nara and just knew it had large buddhas, deer, and was an old imperial capital.  I did some quick research the night before and had a rough idea about what I wanted to see there.  Getting to Nara was easy as there was a direct train from Kyoto Station and it was only one subway stop from my hotel.  The local train to Nara took about 45 or 50 minutes to get there.

Nara is well-known for its population of free-roaming deer. Considered sacred animals in Japanese culture, these deer have become a major attraction for tourists visiting Nara. The deer have also become quite accustomed to human interaction, and can often be seen approaching visitors in search of food. However, it is important to note that while the deer are generally friendly, they can become aggressive if provoked or if they feel threatened.

Tourists are encouraged to purchase deer crackers to feed the deer, as this is a safe and acceptable way to interact with them. In fact, feeding the deer has become a popular activity for visitors to Nara. I heard that the deer have become accustomed to bowing their heads as a sign of respect when asking for food.  In reality, I didn't see that.  It was more of a mob scene.  They also know when you are buying the nutritionally balanced crackers from vendors and will surround you.  I was mobbed by a clump of 6 deer.  So much fun!

While the deer are a major draw for tourists, it is important to remember that they are still wild animals and should be treated with respect. Visitors should be cautious when interacting with the deer and should not attempt to touch or approach them too closely.

Some does.

This Nandaimon gate is huge!  Note the deer wandering everywhere.

The Great Gate, or Nandaimon, at the Daibutsu Temple in Nara, Japan is a huge structure that is both awe-inspiring and breathtaking. It is the largest gate in Japan and stands at a towering height of 25 meters, making it an impressive sight to behold.  The gate is made entirely of ancient looking wood, and is a traditional Japanese design.

The most striking feature of the Great Gate is the two large statues of Nio, the guardians of the Buddha, that stand at the entrance. These statues are over 8 metres tall and are carved from wood. They are depicted with fierce expressions, bulging muscles, and dynamic poses, giving the impression that they are ready to defend the temple from any intruders.

Visitors to the Daibutsu Temple must pass through the Great Gate to reach the temple and the Great Buddha Hall, where a 16 metre-tall bronze statue of Buddha is enshrined. Walking through the gate is a powerful experience, as the grandeur and scale of the structure create a sense of reverence and respect for the temple and its teachings.

Closer view of the gate with its overhanging roofs.

Gate from another angle.

Nio Guardian

Nio Guardian.

The interior of the gate.

Great Buddha Hall / Daibutsuden.

Daibutsu Temple, also known as Todai-ji Temple (Great Eastern Temple), is a famous Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple was established in the year 728 by Emperor Shomu and is one of the oldest and most iconic temples in the country.

Over the centuries, Daibutsu Temple has undergone several major renovations and expansions, with the most recent one taking place in the late 20th century. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a popular tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world.

One of the most significant features of the temple is the Great Buddha Hall, which is also known as the Daibutsuden. This massive wooden structure is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and is home to the largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan. The statue stands at a height about 16 metres and is a masterpiece of ancient Japanese art.

Another highlight of the temple is the Nigatsu-do Hall, which is located on a hill overlooking the temple complex. This hall is famous for its beautiful architecture and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. It is also known for its annual Omizutori festival, which takes place in March and involves a series of fire rituals and lantern displays.

In addition to these main attractions, Daibutsu Temple is also home to several other notable structures and features, including the Shoso-in Repository, the Hokke-do Hall, and the Sangatsu-do Hall. The temple also has a rich history and cultural significance, having played an important role in the development of Buddhism in Japan.

The walk up to the great hall.

The giant building houses a giant buddha.

Closeup of the Buddha.

A diety.

Another view of the Buddha.

I took awhile looking over the great gate and hall.  The crowds weren't bad, so I looked at all the displays and the detailing in the building and the statue.  Pretty impressive sight, especially as the original building was even larger than this rebuild one.  Amazing that they don't use nails.

After this I walked over to Kasuga-Taisha, a relatively close Shinto shrine.  There was a wide avenue leading towards it that was lined with hundreds of stone lanterns.  It was pretty cool to see and many of the lanterns had moss on them or even deer standing next to them.

Kasuga-Taisha is a Shinto shrine founded in the 8th century at the same time Nara became the imperial capital. Over the centuries, the shrine has been rebuilt and renovated several times. The most recent major renovation took place in 2010, when the main hall of the shrine was rebuilt using traditional construction techniques and materials.  This the oldest and most famous shrine in Nara (note this is a shrine, not a temple).

One of the most striking features of Kasuga-Taisha is its many lanterns. There are over 3,000 lanterns on the shrine grounds.  There are literally avenues of lanterns that seem to go on for miles. Many of these lanterns were donated by worshippers over the centuries, and they are lit twice a year during the shrine's festivals. 

Kasuga-Taisha has two lantern festivals every year.  One is Setsubun for the beginning of spring in February, while the second is in August for Obon to honour the dead.  These festivals and attract thousands of visitors every year.  The shrine is decorated with thousands of lanterns, which are lit at night to create a beautiful and magical atmosphere. The lanterns are made from washi paper and are painted with traditional Japanese designs.  Prayers can be offered to the Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto, Futsunushi-no-Mikoto, Amanokoyane-no-Mikoto, and Himegami, the four deities of the shrine.

The festivals begins with a purification ceremonies, where the priests of the shrine purify themselves and the area around the shrine. This is followed by a parade of people dressed in traditional Japanese costumes, carrying portable shrines called mikoshi. The mikoshi are carried around the shrine and through the town, accompanied by music and dancing.  As night falls, the lanterns are lit and the shrine and its surroundings are bathed in a warm and gentle glow. Visitors can wander around the shrine and enjoy the atmosphere, take part in traditional Japanese games and activities, and enjoy local food and drink.

Another important feature of the shrine is its collection of sacred deer. Nara is famous for its friendly deer, and many of these deer can be found on the grounds of Kasuga-Taisha. According to legend, the deity of the shrine arrived at the site riding on the back of a white deer, and the deer have been considered sacred ever since.

Shrine to sacred deer.

Avenue to shrine lined with lanterns!

More lanterns.   Imagine lighting them all!

The lanterns were very scenic.

Gate to the shrine itself.  You need to pay to enter the inner courtyard, but you can go beyond this gate.

So many lanterns.

Lantern closeup.  Very picturesque.

There are these huge rows of handing lanterns in the shrine.

After seeing this shrine, I had done a fair bit of walking, so I wanted to bus it.  I had taken a bus from the train station to the Daibutsu Temple, but it was a fairly long walk to the Shinto Shrine along that avenue lined with lanterns.  From the shrine, I saw there was a bus that would take me back down the main road to the next temple I wanted to see. This saved a bunch of extra mileage on my feet. 

Kohfukuji Temple is a Buddhist temple that has a rich history that spans over 1,300 years, and it is one of the most important temples in Japan. In the 8th century, Kohfukuji was established as the head temple of the Hosso school of Buddhism, which was one of the six major schools of Buddhism in Japan at the time. The temple was originally built by Emperor Tenmu in 669 CE, but it was relocated and expanded by Emperor Shomu in 710 CE. During the Nara period, Kohfukuji was a center of Buddhist culture and art.

During the Heian period, Kohfukuji was destroyed by fire and was later rebuilt by the powerful Fujiwara clan. In the 12th century, the temple became the center of the Yamato-e painting school, which produced some of the most exquisite Buddhist paintings in Japan. During the Kamakura period, Kohfukuji suffered from the wars between the samurai clans, but it was rebuilt by the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century.

The Eastern Golden Hall, the five story pagoda, the Central Golden Hall, and the Northern Octagonal Hall are the most prominent structures at the temple. These buildings are designated as National Treasures of Japan (not the Central Hall which is a 2018 reconstruction) and are some of the finest examples of Japanese Buddhist architecture.

Some of the major highlights of Kohfukuji Temple include:

1. The Eastern Golden Hall - This building is the oldest structure at Kohfukuji and is believed to have been built in the 8th century. It houses a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing.

2. The Central Golden Hall - This building was destroyed by fire 300 years ago and just recently rebuilt and opened in 2018.

3. The Northern Octagonal Hall - This building is dedicated to Fujiwara no Fuhito, one of the temple's founders.
   

4. The National Treasure Museum - This museum houses a collection of over 10,000 artifacts, including Buddhist statues, paintings, and other religious objects. Some of the most notable pieces in the collection include a bronze statue of the Medicine Buddha and a set of six-panel folding screens depicting the life of the Buddha..

5. The To-Kae Lantern Festival - This festival is held in August and features thousands of lanterns illuminating the temple grounds.

The 5 story pagoda rises!

The five story pagoda here is quite stunning and well displayed on its own.

I wasn't the only one taking photos!

The 5-story pagoda at Kohfukuji Temple is a stunning architectural masterpiece that is one of the tallest wooden structures in Japan (second tallest pagoda), standing at an impressive height of over 50 meters.

The pagoda was originally built in the early 8th century, but it has been reconstructed several times over the centuries due to natural disasters and fires. The current structure dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868) and is made entirely of wood.

Each floor of the pagoda is decorated with intricate carvings and paintings that depict Buddhist deities, mythical creatures, and scenes from Buddhist scriptures. The first floor of the pagoda is a small shrine where visitors can offer prayers and light incense. At the very top of the pagoda is a golden spire, which is said to contain a sacred relic of the Buddha. The spire is decorated with intricate metalwork and is visible from miles away.

There was some restoration or lighting work being done when I was there.

Treasure Hall.

Octagonal Hall

Octagonal Hall.

After touring the grounds I figured I had walked tons already today.  There was a three story pagoda in a corner of this spawling temple complex that I didn't bother to see because of the distance.  Instead I went to the museum where many National Treasures are displayed.  Some very beautiful statuary is here.  There were many statues I really liked, including Ashura which is shown below.  Ashura is slender, almost feminine, with three faces and six arms, but is a fierce guardian.

Get your souvenir deer!

These postcards show some of the treasures on display inside (no photos).  The craftsmanship is exquisite!

Ashura, demon protector, from a clear file.

After visiting this museum it was time to head back to the train station for the trip back to Kyoto.  The bus stop was basically right outside the temple complex so it was easy to catch a bus back there.  I could have spent more hours in Nara, but I was pretty tired from all the walking and my feet were sore.  This is the one downside for not staying in Nara, there is a lot of history to see, and you can't see it all in one day.

Juijutsu Kaisen Popup Store

Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular Japanese manga and anime series that follows the story of Yuji Itadori, a high school student with impressive physical abilities. After a cursed object is unleashed in his school, Yuji ingests one of its fingers to protect his friends, unwittingly becoming a host to a powerful curse named Sukuna.

Yuji is recruited by Jujutsu High, a school of sorcerers that specializes in exorcising curses and protecting humanity from evil spirits. He is trained by his mentor, Satoru Gojo, and other jujutsu sorcerers, including Nobara Kugisaki and Megumi Fushiguro.

Throughout the series, Yuji and his friends must face off against powerful curses and sorcerers, often putting their lives on the line to protect humanity. Along the way, they also face personal challenges and struggles, dealing with themes such as loss, betrayal, and the weight of responsibility.

I saw a fair bit of merchandise from this show, but this traveling pop-up store in Kyoto Station, was completely devoted to the show.  Lots of merchandise.  I like the show, but not enough to buy anything here.

Nobara

Yuji

Satoru

Megumi

There were 7 or 8 shelves of goods like this.

Also in the station was a display of Kenele Lagoon, which showcases various gashapon.  There are big banks of these in several station, including Akihabara Station in Tokyo.

I was hungry for a late lunch by the time the train returned to Kyoto.  I walked by this conveyor belt sushi restaurant on the main floor of Kyoto Station in a little section full of traditional Japanese restaurants. It was obvious from the outside that is was a conveyor belt restaurant as there was this animated display of sushi plates rotating around out front!  Anyhow, I was in after that as there was no lineup, but I don't know the name of the place. 

Some regular sushi.

The restaurant features a long conveyor belt that winds around the central sushi prep area that occupies the center of the restaurant. There are plates of sushi and other Japanese dishes on the belt under clear plastic covers. The plates are color-coded to indicate the price, with cheaper plates being a more basic sushi and the more expensive plates are usually premium sushi. Customers sit around the conveyor belt and choose the plates they want as they come by.

The sushi chefs behind the counter prepare each dish fresh and place it on the conveyor belt for customers to choose from. The sushi is made with high-quality ingredients, including fresh fish, vegetables, and rice. There is also a wide variety of sushi options available, from traditional favorites like tuna and salmon to more unique options like sea urchin and eel.

The restaurant has a relaxed and casual atmosphere, with many customers coming in after a long day of sightseeing or work. The décor is simple and functional, with a focus on the conveyor belt and the sushi itself. The restaurant can get quite busy during peak times, with customers eagerly waiting for their favorite dishes to come around on the conveyor belt.  It offers an affordable and convenient way to sample some of the best sushi that Kyoto has to offer, all while enjoying the lively atmosphere and unique dining style of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

A few more pieces of sushi.

Breakfast Set Restaurant Display.

A tasty looking meal with egg and rice. Deluxe Breakfast.

More food models.

I also picked up some band-aids from a pharmacy.  They aren't cheap in Japan either.

One of the more memorable things I did was track down the often scarce Pikachu Pokemon Donut!  There is a Mr. Donut at Kyoto Station.  When I arrived, they had sold out, but on this day, they had some when I checked.

Their Pokemon donut promotion.

My Pikachu donut.  There was also Jigglypuff, but I can only eat so much.

They have very nice bags.

My Pikachu donut up close.  It was very nicely decorated.  It was tasty with icing on the outside and cream filled on the inside.  Glad I managed to get one.

That night, I didn't go far from the hotel.  I took a stroll through the neighbourhood and saw lots of mini-shrines.

For dinner, I went back to Yoshinoya for a big beef bowl and a piece of karaage.  Not a fancy dinner, but it ended my day nicely.

After my lunch at Kyoto Station and purchase of the Pikachu donut I headed back to my hotel.  I had to rest and plan for the next leg of my trip to Osaka in the morning. I used my Japan Rail Pass a bit for the train to Nara and would use it again for the journey to Osaka, but the pass would not have broken even with some extra if I hadn't done another side trip to Himeji. Since I'm writing this post way after my return from Japan, I wouldn't buy another Japan Rail Pass unless you were planning on doing long distance Shinkansen trips every other day or more frequently, especially after the prices are going up in November of 2023.

Back to Day 8 - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit

Onward to Osaka for Day 10 - Seeing Osaka Castle and Dotonbori 

The Japan Trip 2022 Posts

1. Planning My Tokyo 2022 Trip Highlights and Attractions (for Anime and Regular Tourists)
   
2. Highlights From My December 2022 Trip to Japan (with links to daily pages)
3. Day 1 - The First Night In Tokyo
4. Day 2 in Tokyo - Visiting Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Taking a Taxi 
5. Day 2 in Tokyo - Evening with Godzilla and Christmas Lights
6. Day 3 - Back to Shibuya for New Parco, Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Miyashita Park 
7. Day 3 -  Views From Shibuya Sky, Shopping at Tokyu Hands and Don Quijote
8. Day 4 - Nezu Shrine, Ameyoko, Ni No Kashi Candy Store, Yamashiroya Toy Store, and Ichiran Ramen in Ueno
9. Day 4 - Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illuminations, and Pokemon Store and Cafe Nihonbashi
10. Day 5 - Yokohama, Giant Gundam at Gundam Factory, Landmark Tower Shopping, Harry Potter Christmas Trees
11. Day 6 - Yokohama , Nissin Cup Noodle Museum, World Porters Mall, Landmark Tower Shopping Area
12. Day 7 - Kyoto Part 1, Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine
13. Day 7 - Kyoto Part 2, Kodaiji Temple Night Illuminations and Yasaka Shrine at Night  
14. Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit 
15. Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 2 - Kennin Ji Temple and Evening at Kyoto Station
16. Day 9 - Travelogue - First Visit to Nara for Deer, Pikachu Donut, Daibutsu Temple, Kasuga-Taisha, Kohfukuji Temple 
17. Day 10 - Osaka - Seeing Osaka Castle, Pokemon Center, and Dotonbori 
18. Day 11 - Seeing Himeji Castle, the Most Beautiful One in Japan, and the Umeda Sky Building
19. Day 12 - Osaka Aquarium (Whale Sharks!), Den Den Town, Shinsekai, and MOS Burger
20. Day 13 - Travelogue - Back to Tokyo - Akihabara - Shinjuku at Night
21. Day 14 - Underground to Ginza, Shopping, Ginza GoldFish Aquarium, and Tokyo Skytree
22. Day 14 - Tokyo's Underground Labyrinth 2 - Walking From Tokyo Station to Ginza
23. Day 15 - Travelogue - Museums Close Monday - Ueno Park - Narita - Flight Home

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