If any Japanese sightseeing destination could outshine Kyoto it would be the city that preceded it as capital; Nara. Even older than Kyoto it was the Imperial Capital from 710 to 784 AD and is considered the birthplace of a collective Japanese culture. It was also a place where religion and especially Buddhism first prospered in Japan, and many amazing Buddhist temples remain as testament to this. It is located about an hours train ride south of Kyoto and it seemed an ideal place to visit for a day trip from Kyoto.
On the morning of our trip my parents and I were lucky to wake up to a gloriously sunny day and quickly gathered our belongings and headed for the station. Nara is on a smaller scale than Kyoto and has a more rural feel. The sightseeing attractions are situated in and around sprawling Nara Park, which is a pleasant natural reserve, home to numerous roaming wild deer. The deer have been protected here since the 8th Century, when they were thought to be messengers of the Gods.
They seem fairly tame and many tourists amuse themselves by feeding and petting them. Unfortunately for one young schoolchild we saw that morning, the deer are not entirely docile. The boy was teasing the animal as children often do, and was leaning his head close to it, when the deer suddenly scampered back a metre or so then hit this child with an almighty butt, at speed, right on his forehead. The child flew backwards, stunned, but aside from a few tears seemed OK. I think if it had hit him on a more delicate part of his head the situation could have been more serious. Aside from this incident though, the deer were generally well behaved! Where else but Japan would you see a deer waiting patiently at the pedestrian crossing for a break in the traffic? This was one of the funniest moments I’ve had in Japan.
Nara’s wandering deer were a highlight but even more memorable were the three fantastic world heritage sites we visited. The first of these was Kofukuji temple near the centre of Nara Park. The most impressive aspect of this temple is its huge wooden 'Five Storey Pagoda' which standing at 50m high is the second tallest in Japan. It was originally constructed in 710AD but having been destroyed by numerous fires over the years the present structure dates back to 1426 AD. Painted brightly in yellow, red and white it’s really quite amazing how large the tower is. The pagoda’s five elegantly sloping roofs are crowned with an intricate vertical spire which can be seen for miles around. It’s no surprise this building is one of the most photographed in Japan and I used a lot of film trying to frame the perfect shot of it.
Next we walked northeast through the park about one and a half kilometres to celebrated Todaiji Temple. Although I had heard a lot about the temple of the Great Buddha, nothing could have prepared me for my first sight of the huge structure. It was simply immense. The vast two storey construction is coloured brown and white. Soaring high at the centre of the roof are what look like two gold horns pointing towards each other. At the base of the building are two massive gates which thousands of tourists flood through each day. The day we went was no different and there seemed to be endless crowds of thrilled schoolchildren on fieldtrips running around.
Once inside the temple you can see many remarkable treasures on display. The foremost of these is the giant Daibutsu or ‘Great Buddha’. Sitting in the centre of the hall at a height of 15m, the bronze statue was erected in 752AD. The right hand of the Daibutsu is positioned to symbolise the bestowing of tranquillity and it’s left the granting of wishes. Seated on the left and right of the central figure are two smaller Buddha; to the left ‘Nyorin Kannon’ who is said to answer prayers and to the right ‘Kukozu’ who embodies wisdom and happiness.
While I was viewing these effigies I had an enjoyable experience with a group of primary aged schoolchildren who were perhaps more enamoured with the rare opportunity of meeting a young westerner than viewing the ancient statues. I had had a brief conversation with several of the boys earlier in a mix of basic English and Japanese, and when they saw me again inside the temple there was no escape. Along with twenty or thirty of their classmates they crowded around me like young Paparazzi. It was all a good laugh and it was great to give these kids the opportunity to meet someone from another culture and practise their English. I have two great group photos that a teacher took; one with the boys and another with the girls which capture the moment superbly.
Todaiji remains my best memory of the entire trip; including the wonders of Kyoto. The immense beauty of its’ buildings are unique. I have since learned the temple remains the largest wooden structure in the world even though it is only two thirds the size of the original structure which was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1709!
The final place we visited was an 8th Century Shrine called Kasuga Taisha, which is on the eastern edge of Nara Park at the base of Mt Wakamiya. By the time we reached Kasuga it was late in the afternoon and we were feeling a little jaded. The Shrine itself was quite small and offered a change of pace from hectic Todaiji as there were only a handful of tourists wandering around the relaxed hillside site. As we strolled through the grounds I was struck by the elegance of the setting. Painted a stunning red, white and green the buildings were characterised by the elaborate design of their woodwork. Hanging outside the walls were rows and rows of hanging bronze lanterns. And beyond the buildings the shrine is surrounded by a rich grove of trees and greenery. Our leisurely exploration of beautiful Kasuga Taisha was a great way to unwind after a long day sightseeing.
Although Nara may be on a smaller scale than Kyoto, it is no less significant as a tourist destination. More ancient than Kyoto, it has an authentic feel about it. With its’ attractions situated in the vicinity of scenic Nara Park, it has a more natural atmosphere than its close neighbour. I have many magnificent memories of Nara, and I would recommend that anyone visiting Japan should put the city at the top of their list of places to go.
On the morning of our trip my parents and I were lucky to wake up to a gloriously sunny day and quickly gathered our belongings and headed for the station. Nara is on a smaller scale than Kyoto and has a more rural feel. The sightseeing attractions are situated in and around sprawling Nara Park, which is a pleasant natural reserve, home to numerous roaming wild deer. The deer have been protected here since the 8th Century, when they were thought to be messengers of the Gods.
They seem fairly tame and many tourists amuse themselves by feeding and petting them. Unfortunately for one young schoolchild we saw that morning, the deer are not entirely docile. The boy was teasing the animal as children often do, and was leaning his head close to it, when the deer suddenly scampered back a metre or so then hit this child with an almighty butt, at speed, right on his forehead. The child flew backwards, stunned, but aside from a few tears seemed OK. I think if it had hit him on a more delicate part of his head the situation could have been more serious. Aside from this incident though, the deer were generally well behaved! Where else but Japan would you see a deer waiting patiently at the pedestrian crossing for a break in the traffic? This was one of the funniest moments I’ve had in Japan.
Nara’s wandering deer were a highlight but even more memorable were the three fantastic world heritage sites we visited. The first of these was Kofukuji temple near the centre of Nara Park. The most impressive aspect of this temple is its huge wooden 'Five Storey Pagoda' which standing at 50m high is the second tallest in Japan. It was originally constructed in 710AD but having been destroyed by numerous fires over the years the present structure dates back to 1426 AD. Painted brightly in yellow, red and white it’s really quite amazing how large the tower is. The pagoda’s five elegantly sloping roofs are crowned with an intricate vertical spire which can be seen for miles around. It’s no surprise this building is one of the most photographed in Japan and I used a lot of film trying to frame the perfect shot of it.
Next we walked northeast through the park about one and a half kilometres to celebrated Todaiji Temple. Although I had heard a lot about the temple of the Great Buddha, nothing could have prepared me for my first sight of the huge structure. It was simply immense. The vast two storey construction is coloured brown and white. Soaring high at the centre of the roof are what look like two gold horns pointing towards each other. At the base of the building are two massive gates which thousands of tourists flood through each day. The day we went was no different and there seemed to be endless crowds of thrilled schoolchildren on fieldtrips running around.
Once inside the temple you can see many remarkable treasures on display. The foremost of these is the giant Daibutsu or ‘Great Buddha’. Sitting in the centre of the hall at a height of 15m, the bronze statue was erected in 752AD. The right hand of the Daibutsu is positioned to symbolise the bestowing of tranquillity and it’s left the granting of wishes. Seated on the left and right of the central figure are two smaller Buddha; to the left ‘Nyorin Kannon’ who is said to answer prayers and to the right ‘Kukozu’ who embodies wisdom and happiness.
While I was viewing these effigies I had an enjoyable experience with a group of primary aged schoolchildren who were perhaps more enamoured with the rare opportunity of meeting a young westerner than viewing the ancient statues. I had had a brief conversation with several of the boys earlier in a mix of basic English and Japanese, and when they saw me again inside the temple there was no escape. Along with twenty or thirty of their classmates they crowded around me like young Paparazzi. It was all a good laugh and it was great to give these kids the opportunity to meet someone from another culture and practise their English. I have two great group photos that a teacher took; one with the boys and another with the girls which capture the moment superbly.
Todaiji remains my best memory of the entire trip; including the wonders of Kyoto. The immense beauty of its’ buildings are unique. I have since learned the temple remains the largest wooden structure in the world even though it is only two thirds the size of the original structure which was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1709!
The final place we visited was an 8th Century Shrine called Kasuga Taisha, which is on the eastern edge of Nara Park at the base of Mt Wakamiya. By the time we reached Kasuga it was late in the afternoon and we were feeling a little jaded. The Shrine itself was quite small and offered a change of pace from hectic Todaiji as there were only a handful of tourists wandering around the relaxed hillside site. As we strolled through the grounds I was struck by the elegance of the setting. Painted a stunning red, white and green the buildings were characterised by the elaborate design of their woodwork. Hanging outside the walls were rows and rows of hanging bronze lanterns. And beyond the buildings the shrine is surrounded by a rich grove of trees and greenery. Our leisurely exploration of beautiful Kasuga Taisha was a great way to unwind after a long day sightseeing.
Although Nara may be on a smaller scale than Kyoto, it is no less significant as a tourist destination. More ancient than Kyoto, it has an authentic feel about it. With its’ attractions situated in the vicinity of scenic Nara Park, it has a more natural atmosphere than its close neighbour. I have many magnificent memories of Nara, and I would recommend that anyone visiting Japan should put the city at the top of their list of places to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment