On the fourth day, we took off from Kyoto to Nara on JR Nara Line, by Miyakoji Rapid Service train (in green), which you can see from the above picture. It was around 8 in the cool morning when we boarded the train on Platform 10. On JR Nara Line, we stopped at a few stations before our destination at Nara, which were Kyoto-Tofukuji-Rokujizo-Uji-Joyo-Tamamizu-Kizu-Nara. The one way journey from Kyoto to Nara took about 45 minutes.
Nara
A few main attractions in Nara are Todaiji, Kasugataisha and Nara Park, just to name a few. Once we alighted from the train, we walked out from JR Nara Station, and quickly found the street leading to Nara Park. If you don't know, Nara Park, Todaiji, and Kasugataisha are located to the West of Nara Station.
Since we dashed out from our hotel with empty tummies in the morning, the sight of the below restaurant sparked the interest in us. Both of us strode in and started to order our brekkie.
The breakfast menu and the layout of the restaurant, spacious, clean and comfortable with classical music being played at the background.
There were Japanese and Western breakfast sets to choose from. Despite I am a true blue Japanese cuisine lover, but I could not resist breakfast with sunny-side-up...:D. Hence, hubby had Japanese style brekkie...consisting of saba fish, miso soup, pickles and steamed sushi rice.
While I had Western set....with my favourite sausages, sunny-side-ups, salad, toast with butter and jam, a banana and fresh fruit juice. A hearty one to kick-start our day!
And what fascinated us about the restaurant, all the juices, tea, coffee, and many other beverages could be topped up from this section.....Dining here was far more reasonable than we expected, it cost us only 1214 yen for two!
Then, we moved on, walking on the same stretch of street. Below is the Nara City Tourist Center, where you can get most of the info about Nara and the map.
Sarusawa-ike Pond, located at the South of Kofukuji Temple.
Look at the change of colours behind me...autumn in Nara.
Kofukuji Temple is only 15 minutes walk from JR Nara station, just before you enter the Nara Park.
The Five-story Pagoda....considered one of the best structures in the temple precinct, the second tallest pagoda in Japan.
The beautiful autumn colours in Nara...
Reached Nara Park where more than 1000 sacred Sika deers could be seen roaming around. Although the deers were stripped off from their sacred image after World War II, they are still considered National Treasure and are protected.
Get cosy with the tame deer.
Tourists or visitors can buy deer biscuit from any road-side stalls. But be careful when you feed them, unbeknownst to you, you can be surrounded and attacked by a group of deers asking to be fed!
The deer stared at the biscuits sold nearby.
Some of the warnings displayed in the park. Sika deers will bite, kick, butt and even knock down on people when provoked.
After passing by the Nara Park, we walked towards the Todaiji Temple. Saw a push cart selling charcoal grilled purple sweet potato. They were humongous, with 100 grams cost 200 yen. A pair of caucasions deemed it was too expensive and they requested to get only half of the huge ass potato but the obasan refused. In the end the couple went off after their bargaining was to no avail.
Hubby bought one for sharing coz we were still full after the brekkie, just a few minutes ago.
Look what I meant, this potato was IMMENSE!
The Deer God
A bunch of youngsters clad in school uniforms heading towards Todaiji.
Nara National Museum, located within the Nara Park.
Two deers approached and begged hubby for his potato. At the end, the deers had all our potato. What amazed us, was the deers actually know how to plead and beg by nodding their heads without fail and touching hubby with nose tips, as a sign of begging for the food....how sweet....
Todaiji Temple
Todaiji Temple is one of the most famous temples in Japan, which is a landmark of Nara.
Posing at the Great Southern Gate of Todaiji, Nandaimon Gate. Sacred sika deers were seen guarding the temple ground.
Tickets to enter Daibutsuden, 500 yen per person. It opens from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in November.
A couple shot in front of Daibutsuden.
Daibutsuden or Big Buddha Hall, is the main hall of Todaiji. It is the World's largest wooden building, which houses Japan biggest bronze statue Buddha, Daibutsu, seated at 15 metres high.
15-metre tall bronze Buddha statue, Daibutsu.
The wooden statue of Binzuru, which is believed to have healing power. It is said that if you rub a part of the Binzuru, and then the corresponding part of your own body, the ailment on that particular area will be cured.
Tamon-ten, Guardian of the North, one of the four guardian kings, protecting the Todaiji Temple.
Many students lined up to squeeze through a small hole under a wooden pillar. The size of the hole is said similar to Buddha's nostril, and legend said that those who successfully pass through the obstacle will be granted an enlightenment in their next life. See, how much they enjoyed themselves...while their teacher snapped pictures of them, crawling out from the hole.
Students making a beeline, waiting for their turn, to take up the challenge!
A student got tensed up when deers tried to snatch biscuits away from her.
Row of deers lazed under the shade.
Kasugataisha
Kasugataisha is a famous shrine which was found in 768 when Nara was nominated as the ancient capital of Japan. Visitors who wish to visit the inner shrine's offering hall, have to pay 400 yen per person. It opens from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in November.
Before reaching Kasugataisha, we spent 20 minutes or so on foot, passing through the woods, with cool breeze slowly brushing against our cheeks, the serene soft rustling sound of colour-changed maple leaves, with lovely birds chirping and echoing the peaceful surrounding. It was such a pleasure to stroll along the path.
The passage leading to the shrine is lined with stone lanterns. Sacred deers could be spotted every now and then, appeared from their hiding places in the woods or amidst the stone lanterns.
The torii gate, entrance to the main sanctuary of Kasugataisha.
The Nanmon Gate of Enomoto Jinja.
Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns, which were donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings. The lanterns are lit twice a year on the occasion of the Lantern Festivals in early February and mid August.
After visiting Kasugataisha, we walked back to JR Nara station to continue with the next destination, Uji. While on our way, we saw a stall with many people queueing. Out of curiousity, we stepped forward to see what was selling like hot cakes. The roughly crushed and lightly sweetened red bean mochi with its macha-flavoured springy outer layer made from glutinous rice, coated with finely ground peanut powder, was indeed a treasure. They managed to earn titles in Japan TV Champion. We bought a packet of the mochi of four, and devoured the whole thing just in seconds.
On the Miyakoji Rapid train, heading to Uji, on JR Nara Line.
Uji
Uji is a small town, located to the South of Kyoto city. It is famous for high quality green tea, with many temples and shrines dotted around. It is a quiet town with historical sights, which is then becomes a cultural center of Japan.
Uji produces highly fragrant, good quality tea in Japan due to its geography and climate. Uji green tea represents both Uji's culture and industry of tea drinking populations in Japan.
Byodo-in Temple
Byodo-in is registered as UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1994. It can be accessed 15 minutes on foot from Uji Station.
Standing at the Omotemon, the main gate of Byodo-in.
The Phoenix Hall was closed for reroofing and painting works. The repair of the hall is scheduled from 3rd Sept 2012 to 31st March 2014. During the renovation, visitors are only allowed to visit Byodo-in Museum, with entrance fee of 300 yen per person.
The main building of Byodo-in, the Phoenix Hall should look like this. It is a National Treasure, set at the edge of an artificial pond. The Japanese 10 yen coin is embossed with the Phoenix Hall image.
Autumn in Byodo-in Temple.
Byodo-in Museum, Hoshokan is opened for public. It stores and displays most of the national treasures, including 52 wooden Bodhisattvas, the temple bell, the south end Phoenix, and other historically precious items.
The one and only picture which I quickly snapped in Byodo-in Museum. Photography is strictly prohibited in the museum. The famous "Worshiping Bodhisattva on Cloud" and many other beautiful ancient sculptures and national treasures are on display.
We only spent an hour plus in Byodo-in, the sun set in at 5.30 p.m. Walked back to Uji station.
Passed by a tea house selling mainly green tea.
A girl helped us seated and quickly served us their in-house high grade green tea. She was not very well conversed in English. The lady boss stepped out and greeted us. She spoke fluent English and served us well. Drinking green tea is beneficial for our body. Numerous research have been done and is said that the compound found in green tea, is rich in anti-oxidant, helps to inhibit growth of cancer cells, lower total cholesterol levels and stress-reliever.
Happy customers with our purchase. Buying Uji green tea is a must whenever you visit Uji.
We spent about 10000 yen for the green tea. With the humble, soft-spoken Japanese lady boss....
Uji is associated with green tea. In fact it produces the most green tea in Japan. Other than buying green tea products, eating macha ice-cream, macha infused desserts, and cha soba are a few things to look out for in Uji. We stepped into a random noodle shop for its soba. Everything in the menu is in Japanese. Luckily there were plastic items displayed in the glass panel in front the shop.
I ordered cold cha soba served with dipping sauce, and finely sliced scallion. The soba was heavenly,strongly infused with macha flavour, refreshing and springy, al-dente....just the way I love so so so much!
Hubby had hot soba with ebi tempura. Though I still prefer mine, because when you have it cold, you can actually taste the macha aftertaste better and the soba retains the springy texture.
The plastic food replica display in front the noodle shop.
The appetizing soba only cost us 1400 yen. If you wish to visit the noodle shop, this is the shop that we happened to pass by while on our way back to JR Uji station.
The Uji River, Uji Bridge, and The Statue of Murasaki-Shikibu
We detoured a bit when we were about to reach Uji Station. Crossed the road where we could see the Statue of Murasaki-Shikibu along the fast flowing Uji River, which originates from the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa. The Uji Bridge is said to be one of the Three Famous Old Bridges in Japan, while the stone statue of Murasaki-Shikibu was the author of the Tale of Genji.
Back to JR Uji Station where we took a train back to Kyoto.
It didn't take too long....before we knew it, we were back in Kyoto again. Strutted back straight to the hotel after a fruitful day. We dined in a Japanese restaurant in our hotel.
Many Japanese especially men love to hang out in izakaya for post-work drinking session over dinner. Chatting, toasting on beer or sake, puffing on ciggies....which always bring out lively yet blasting atmosphere around...not to say about the dense smoke from their ciggies. That is one thing which I do not like....:(
Below were dishes that we had before our good night rest...quite a spread though we just had our soba not long ago...What a Glutton! Yummy fresh and creamy uni (sea urchin)
Shirako which resembles brain, with a very delicate sac covering inner creamy and soft white stuff. It is mainly popular as a winter delicacy in Japan. So what's actually shirako? The answer is.....it's sperm-filled reproductive gland of a male fish.
I love my sashimi so much. We basically had sashimi all the time, for every single meals in Japan! It's so ADDICTIVE!
Till the next post, SAYONARA!
When I was in Uji, I tried the very special green tea udon which you could hardly find elsewhere. The taste was so great!
ReplyDeleteAngie
Too bad I didn't try the udon, but I reckon the soba was just perfect!
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