Health and Sports Day Traveling: Nara

Gary, Nick and I traveled to Kyoto over the long weekend that we got for Health and Sports Day. I wish that we had some of these holidays in America (this is one amongst the likes of Respect for the Aged Day, Ocean Day, the Star Festival, etc.). There was a lot to cover for the trip, so I thought that I would divide it up into tasty, easy to digest segments.

We arrived in Kyoto via overnight bus (8 hours) on Friday morning. Our first big excursion occured on Saturday, and as much as I would have liked to have saved its description for last, I think it necessary to be logical and start with Nara. It was here in the Nara basin that Japanese civilization first appeared.

So, we may have sat on the train to Nara for so long that it started going back in the direction we came... at least when we got off to turn around the view was scenic


Misty Nara pond


Rain runoff overflows the memorial

It was quite wet when we first arrived in Nara, and our plan was to get something to eat while we waited out the rain. We asked at the busstop, and found the name of a restaurant that served traditional Naran food. By the time we got there, our shoes and socks were soaked. I felt bad when the waitress aligned our shoes for us because we had not placed them straight, but was impressed once again by the sheer sense of duty. Our meal was delicately fragrant and aromatic. Not a big meal, but utterly satisfying. We had noodles cooked in tea and sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves.

One of the best meals I've had in Japan


Calmer waters after lunch

After the meal, we put our wet shoes back on and headed toward Nara-koen, Japan's largest city park. Though we had heard a lot about them, it was still a surprise to see some of Nara's 1500 tame deer walking freely through the park.

The Notorious Naran Deer


Five story pagoda and Eastern Golden Hall from the early 15th century


Making friends

The Daibutsuden was really impressive. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it was massive. Look at the size of the people, and that should give you some idea. When we reached this point we knew that all the traveling and rain had been worth it.

I also would like to take this time to mention that the pink umbrella you see in the picture is not mine. It was borrowed. No really, it was. Cross my heart. Japan has an interesting system with their umbrellas - there seems to be a universal pool of shared umbrellas all over the country. I'm pretty sure that there is a complex Japanese formula somewhere that takes into account all the umbrellas lost versus all those 'borrowed,' and it proves that in the end, this results in everyone being happy. You simply leave your umbrella at the door (for it would be rude to get the floor wet) and pick either it or a different one up on the way out. If you don't have an umbrella, feel free to grab someone else's, because they'll be sure to find one somewhere else. It seems really nice that everyone is so willing to share, but I guess I'm not used to living in a country where everyone is so promiscuous with their umbrellas.

Hall of the Great Buddha - one of the world's largest wooden structures (187 feet wide, 164 feet deep and 157 feet high)

This picture doesn't do justice


The Daibustu (Great Buddha) - the largest bronze statue in the world - over 1200 years old and 53 feet high, weighing in at 550 tons, incorporating 290 pounds of gold

The Great Buddha was astonishing; it was hard to take it all in. There were several other statues around the way, in addition to this wooden pillar. This particular pillar has a small square cut through it, and supposedly if you pass through it, it is thought that the path to enlightenment will open up to you. I had only seen children and women pass through it, and was afraid to be the stupid gaijin (foreigner) who tried and got stuck in the pillar (because there was a crowd circled around), but I decided that I'd never have a chance like this again. When I squatted down, I thought there was no way that I'd be able to fit, but after some pulling, I slid right through. Quite exhiliarating, I must say. Oh, and feel free to ask me any perspicacious life questions you may have - since passing through I have felt the clouds dissipating overhead and the world grows clearer...

On the path to Enlightenment


A really big bell






View of Nara

Despite the intermittent showers, Nara was one of the greatest stops on the trip, perhaps my favorite. In fact, it was so good that the rain actually enhanced the mountain scenery. Stay tuned - more to come from the trip to Kyoto...