Nara
Nara is an ancient capital of Japan, which is located near
Kyoto. I went there to see the Todai-ji -- the biggest wooden
building in the world, they say. Inside is the other big
Daibutsu buddha (the more familiar one in Kamakura sits
outside, exposed to the elements.) I'm also interested in
the the kofun, or
Keyhole
Tombs of the ancient emperors, but it seems like one
should be in a small aircraft to appreciate them fully, and
that was beyond the scope of this expedition.
Tame deer wander around Nara Park -- here they can be seen
on the approach to the ancient wooden Nandai-mon gate -- the
Todai-ji is visible through it. The latter was rebuilt, a few
centuries ago (and it was even larger, originally), but this
gate is much older.
At the entrance of Todai-ji.
Inside, looking up at the Buddha.
Also in Nara -- ornate roof-tops and gates of private homes.
This one has the shachihoko fish at the corners of
the roofline -- lucky charms to protect the structure from fire,
usually seen atop castles, where they're often shiny gold.
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Strings of lucky migawarazaru (also called negai-zaru)
hang at the front of many houses in the old Naramachi neighborhood.
They're pillowy red and white silk crafts meant to resemble a family
of monkeys. A local museum called the
