奈良 - Nara

Nara was Japan's capital from 710 to 785	Nara Kintetsu Station is reachable in about 40 minutes from Osaka-Namba Station	Nara Station	Nara license plate
Arcade near Nara Kintetsu Station	Arcade near Nara Kintetsu Station	Japanese cub scouts, Nara	Japanese cub scouts and scoutmaster
Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara	3-story pagoda from 1143, Kofuku-ji	Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara	Nan-endu, the octagonal South Hall, originally built in 813 A.D., Kofuku-ji Temple
Nan-endu, the octagonal South Hall, rebuilt 1741, Kofuku-ji Temple	Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara	Dragon water fountain, Kofuku-ji	Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara
5-story pagoda from 1426, Kofuku-ji Temple	At 50m/165ft, his is the 2nd tallest pagoda in Japan	Detail of the 1426 pagoda at Kofuku-ji	5-story pagoda, Kofuku-ji
Kofuku-ji Temple	To-kondo, the East Hall, rebuilt in 1415, Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara	Kofuku-ji Temple	Pagoda of Kofuku-ji
Pagoda of Kofuku-ji	Pagoda of Kofuku-ji	Painter in Nara	He's painting the pagoda at Kofuku-ji
Near Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara	Map of Nara-koen Park	You can get around the park in a rickshaw	Hand-pulled rickshaw, Nara
Nara is famous for the tame deer wandering in the temples of Nara-koen Park	The bucks have their antlers removed	Shops on the road to Todai-ji Temple	The deer can be quite insistant
Shop by Todai-ji Temple	The Buddha of Todai-ji Temple	Shop in Nara	Replica samurai swords in a Nara giftshop
Nara, Japan	Nara	Great South Gate to Todai-Ji Temple, Nara	Several of the temples in Nara are World Heritage Sites, including Todai-Ji
Todai-Ji Temple and surrounding park, Nara	Nandaimon Gate, rebuilt 1199 A.D., Todai-ji Temple, Nara	13th C. Nio guardian, Nandaimon Gate	Shame about the chicken wire...
Kagami-ike Pool and Daibutsuden Hall, Todai-ji Temple	Todai-ji Temple is the home of the Buddhist Kegon sect	Chu-mon Gate, Todai-ji Temple	Paper lantern, Todai-ji
Hall of the Great Buddha (Daibutsuden), Todai-ji Temple, rebuilt 1709	Daibutsuden, Todai-ji Temple	This is the largest wooden building in the world	8th C. octagonal bronze lantern, Tempyo period
The Great Buddha, Daibutsu, of Todai-ji represents Birushana	Largest Buddha in Japan, 16m/53ft high	Largest bronze statue in the world, the Daibutsu weighs 437 tons.	Right hand raised in the promise of peace (semui-no-in)
The left hand is in the position of the fulfillment of wishes (yogan-no-in)	Gilded wooden halo with the 16 incarnations of Buddha	Kokuzo-bosatsu, 17th C.	Kokuzo-bosatsu, divinity of wisdom and fortune, Hall of the Great Buddha
Koumoku-ten, ruler of the west, one of the 4 celestial guardians	Tamon-ten, another of the 4 celestial guardians	Nyoirin-Kannon, fulfiller of all wishes	Nyoirin-Kannon, Hall of the Great Buddha
Nyoirin-Kannon, fulfiller of all wishes	Calligraphy in the Daibutsuden, Todai-ji	Seated figure of Binzuru, said to have curative powers	Cloister surrounding the Hall of the Great Buddha, Todai-ji Temple
Daibutsuden Hall cloister	This must be a gift from India	Gate in Nara Koen Park	Sorin (set of treasures) from the 7-story pagoda at Expo '70
Bell tower, Todai-ji Temple, Nara	The 2nd largest bell in Japan, 749 A.D., recast in 1239	Todai-ji Temple, Nara	Roe Deer, Nara
Roe deer faun nursing, Nara	Deer warning, Nara Koen Park	Souvenir shop, Nara	Souvenir shop, Nara
Stone Lanterns, Todai-ji Temple's eastern precinct	Kaizan-do Hall, Todai-ji Temple	Small hall near Nigatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple, Nara	Senju Kannon, Todai-ji Temple
Dragon water fountain, Todai-ji Temple	Dragon water fountain, Todai-ji Temple	Nigatsu-do (Second Month Hall), rebuilt 1699	Nigatsu-do
Nigatsu-do	View from the terrace of the Nigatsu-do (Hall of the Second Month)	Nigatsu-do (Hall of the Second Month), Todai-ji Temple, Nara	Stone markers, Todai-ji Temple, Nara
Sangatsu-do (Second Month Hall) the oldest building at Todai-ji Temple, 733 A.D.	Sangatsu-do (Second Month Hall) contains numerous ancient statues	Fukukenjaku-Kannon	8th C. National treasures, Sangatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple
Sangatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple	National treasures, Sangatsu-do	Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine, Nara	Roe deer sprouting antlers
Gift shop, Nara	Roe deer in front of Mt. Wakakusayama (342m)	Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara	Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Newborn at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Newborn at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Fortune teller booths, Kasuga Tortune teller, Kasuga Taisha Shrine%22C Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara	Fortune teller, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Japan
Stone lanterns, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara	Stone Lanterns, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara	Kasuga Taisha Shrine	The Nara deer are said to be divine messengers
Deer fountain at Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Sake, Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Sake, Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Homotsu-den (Treasure Hall) Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Sword exhibition at the Kasuga Taisha treasure hall	Kasuga Taisha Shrine	Write your wish
Hang it by the temple	Some are not so reverent	Nara deer	Rickshaw, Nara
Rickshaw, Nara	Nara National Museum	Nara National Museum	Nara National Museum
Buddhist library, part of the Nara National Museum complex	Lane in old Nara	Posters in Nara	Narrow road in Nara
Round window on a shop in Nara	Shopping arcade, Nara	Japanese restaurant, Nara	Cafe, Nara
Nara manhole cover	Nara	Roadside beer machine, Nara	Minor temple in Nara
Nara's main shopping area, Sandojori	Preparing Yomogimochi (steamed rice paste mixed with the yomogi herb).	I have to wonder how often he's gotten his hand smashed	Rolling the Yomogimochi into balls
The finished product	Small restaurant near Nara Station with displays of plastic food	Pichenko hall near Nara Station	Modern hand-shaped chair for sale, Nara
Roadsign in Nara for Osaka and Kyoto