NARA
Established in 710, Nara was Japan's first permanent capital. The city is located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka and is full of cultural treasures, including some of Japan's oldest and largest temples.
We took the bullet train from Kyoto and jumped on the Nara City Loop bus No. 2 (clockwise) which took us to Todaiji, the Great Eastern Temple. The temple is reached via the impressive Nandaimon Gate, a large wooden gate watched over by 8m high Nio statues.
The main building at Todaiji', the Daibutsuden or Big Buddha Hall is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, despite the fact that the present reconstruction of 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple hall's size. The building is supported by 84 massive Cypress pillars.
The main Temple building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statues of Buddha - 15 meters tall and cast from over 400 tons of bronze.
The Kasuga Taisha Shrine
We also visited the Kasuga-taisha shrine within Nara Park.It was first built in 768 and subsequently rebuilt several times thereafter. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up the shrine.
???????The Nara Deer Park
There are over 1,200 Sika deer in Nara Park, and it’s impossible to miss them! According to Shinto tradition and lore, Nara deer were the sacred messengers of the gods and today are still considered national treasures. The deer wander freely around the shrines and temples of the Park, waiting for handouts of the nutritious Shika bread that tourists buy to feed them (about A$2 a packet).
These deer are very tame and some have even learned to bow in anticipation of a snack.