Nara | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan

October 4, 2015 by David Herd

Nara station

Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan

Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan is a 45 minute train ride from Osaka, make sure you get a train where you don’t need to change it is quicker and easier. The city has significant temples and artwork dating back to the 8th century when it was the capital of Japan.

Beside the station

Lots of cafes & restaurants around the station area.

I guess he is collecting for something…..

As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 373,189 and a population density of 1,348 persons per km².

The real attraction are the deer & the temples

The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara’s nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a natural treasure.

Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan

Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed.

Some of the 1600

Nara’s deer are surprisingly tame, although they can be aggressive if they think you will feed them.

Nice day in the park

Nara seems like a very peaceful place where people enjoy the parks and feeding the deer.

Slight disagreement

You often see a couple of male deer sorting out the pecking order.

Rickshaw anybody?

At your service sir.

Near the entrance to Todai-Ji Temple

It is a pleasant 45 minute walk from Nara Station to Todai-ji Temple.

Peaceful setting

A peaceful spot near the temple.

Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan, friendly deer

The deer are very tame but are always looking to be fed.

Todai-ji Temple.

Thanks for visiting my post on Nara Prefecture Kansai Japan.

Deer population in Nara park reaches record high 30/7/19

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Todai-ji Buddhist Temple Japan

October 4, 2015 by David Herd

Spectacular Temple

Todai-ji Buddhist Temple Japan

Todai-ji Buddhist Temple Japan is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, along with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara. Deer are regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, hundreds roam the grounds and parks around the temple.

Many school children

Half the crowd were school children enjoying this beautiful temple.

During the Tenpyō era, Japan suffered from a series of disasters and epidemics. It was after experiencing these problems that Emperor Shōmu issued an edict in 741 to promote the construction of provincial temples throughout the nation.

An awesome breathtaking building

Todai-ji Buddhist Temple Japan is one of the most impressive temples I have seen in Japan.

Amazing statues

Magnificent huge statues at Todai-ji Buddhist Temple.

Daibutsu of Tōdai-ji

The principal image of the temple, a colossal bronze statue popularly called the Nara Daibutsu (Great Buddha of Nara), completed in 752, it was installed in its daibutsuden (great Buddha hall). The image embodied the Buddha Birushana who was regarded by the Kegon sect as the cosmic, central Buddha. Over the centuries the icon was severely damaged several times and finally restored to its present form in 1692. Most of the extant Todaiji buildings are restorations of earlier structures.

Bodhisattva statue Kokuzo Bosatsu

Bodhisattva statue Kokuzo Bosatsu inside the Daibutsuden Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple in Nara.

Todai-ji Buddhist Temple

Totally inspiring.

Guardian statue inside the temple

The attention to detail is incredible.

Another Guardian statue inside the temple

A very frightening appearance.

Models of temple buildings

An intricate model of the building.

Another model

These models help put the scale into perspective.

Column at the Todai-ji Buddhist Temple

There is a square hole at the base of this massive wooden column where for some unknown reason people crawl through. There is always a friend at the other side to take the obligatory photo of course. 🙂

Fat kid through the hole

For a while there I didn’t think this fat kid would make it. 🙂

Hundreds of deer roam the area near the temple

Deer are regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, hundreds roam the grounds around the temple.

Pindola (Binzuru) statue

According to the earliest Indian sutra‘s Pindola Bharadvaja was one of four Arhats asked by the Buddha to remain in the world to propagate Buddhist law (Dharma). Each of the four was associated with one of the four compass directions.

Binzuru

Pindola is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult and psychic powers. He was once remonstrated by Buddha for misusing his powers to impress simple, ignorant people.