This past winter holiday, I made plans to split and travel. December 24th happened to be a national holiday, but Christmas day was a work day (go-figure). I had planned to take off on the 26th and go to Tokyo for a few days before rendezvousing in Osaka with some friends, but a cold struck me down on Christmas day. Thus, I canceled my trip to Tokyo. However, by Friday I was right as rain again, and set out to meet my friends in Osaka. I stayed at Tennoji Guest House, a wonderful hostel near Tennoji Station, with my friend Raquel. Entrance is restricted by electronic code at the gate, and everything was exceptionally clean. The host was exceptionally wonderful, and I would recommend it to anyone staying in Osaka.
I arrived early Friday evening, and went down the street to get dinner with Raquel. As we were reading a menu on the street, where there was no one but us and a bus boy across the street, a man turned down the street. As he passed us, he lightly smacked my butt...and got a terrible surprise when I yelled at him in loud, angry Japanese. He fled pretty quickly. The bus boy was frozen in shock. Needless to say, I think he'll reconsider inappropriately touching a foreigner the next time.
The next morning, previous ire forgotten, we set out early for Nara. Nara was once the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. As such, you can imagine that the history there is very rich. Like it's more famous sister city, Kyoto (also once the capital), it has lots of temples. However, unlike Kyoto, it is not a huge city - there's something quaint, something more natural about the way that the old coexists with the new in Nara. Maybe it's all the deer running rampant everywhere.
That's right, I didn't mention the deer yet, did I? They are, perhaps, what Nara is most famous for. And when I say they're everywhere, they are quite literally EVERYWHERE. Though there is a park that they are known to frequent, it's not strange to see them hanging around temples and shrines.
You can buy "Shika-senbei" or "Deer Crackers" and feed them - a MUST if you go to Nara. But BEWARE! These deer are fearless! The babies are still wary, but the older ones know food the second they see it, and they're not patient, either. I thought my Japanese Culture teacher was exaggerating when he said this, but they really DO beat you up with their horns! Which is why, once a year, the Deer are herded and their horns removed so that they can't harm people. When you don't have food, however, they're pretty tame. Raquel and I got to pet some even!
Another thing that Nara is famous for is Todai-ji Temple, which has a giant (and I mean GIANT) Buddha inside. It's a beautiful area, surrounded by nature and deer. Todai-ji houses the World's largest bronze statue of the Buddha. The detail to the piece is amazing, but unfortunately I couldn't catch it all on camera.
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| Entrance to Todaiji Temple Grounds |
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| Todaiji Main Complex |
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| "Daibutsuden" ("Great Buddha Hall") |
After Todai-ji, we walked to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, a Shinto shrine located (relatively) nearby. The morning, though cold, was pleasant and crisp, and the morning sunlight bathed the city with a warm glow that can only really be seen in winter. It made for a lovely walk. Kasuga Shrine, established in 768 AD, is famous for its many bronze and stone lanterns.
At Shinto Shrines, you can buy things called "omikuji," which are fortunes. You shake a box and pull out a stick with a number, and one of the shrine priests/priestesses gives you the corresponding fortune printed on a paper. The fortunes cover all aspects of life, including wealth, marriage, childbirth, work, living, and love. Kasuga Shrine has the added advantage of selling Omikuji in English! Whether you believe in the accuracy of these aside (I don't), it's a fun and interesting experience.
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| Raquel, buying Omikuji! |
We also went to Kofuku-ji, a temple with a large pagoda seemingly in the middle of the city.
(THE REST IS YET TO COME!)
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