Sunday 8 April 2018

Japan, Day 5 - Nara Park

We spent a lot of time on trains on this trip. It was an easy and affordable way of getting around, and rather comfortable too.



This day we went to the ancient capital city Nara, home to many important scenic and historical sites.


It took us a little while to get there, so we had to start right away with some lunch:




Then it was time for a bit of a walk-about in Nara. It was very picturesque and pretty:





Nara has a huge cultural legacy and is full of old buildings. This Kōfuku-ji pagoda belongs to a temple with its origins dating back to the early 8th century. This pagoda has been damaged and destroyed, and rebuilt many times, most recently in 1426.


At 50 meters tall, this five story pagoda is Japan's second tallest.



We walked to the Nara Park, where over 1200 deer are roaming free. They were all very tame and friendly, mostly because they get fed deer crackers which are for sale around the park.



These deer are considered to be the messengers of the gods, and have been designated as natural treasures. They are the symbol of Nara and many deer themed souvenirs were sold around the park.







Some of the deer had even learned to bow to ask to be fed!


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