A G: Japan Day 3 - Kyoto, Nara by Aaron, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nara Park 伏见稻荷大社，奈良

Kyoto， Nara

~Aaron

Kyoto Day3, Nara Day 1:

Fushimi Inari Shrine 京都伏见稻荷大社

Nara Station 奈良火车站

Nara Park 奈良公园

Nara Day 1:

Nara train station 奈良火车站

Nara Park 奈良公园

Kofukuji Temple 兴福寺

Doe Park 鹿苑

Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社

Nigatsu-do Hall 东大寺二月堂

Great Buddha Hall 东大寺大佛殿 (Daibutsu-den Hall)

Great South Gate 东大寺南大门 (Nandai-mon Gate)

Our third day in Japan was wonderful. The Fushimi Inari Shrine 伏见稻荷大社 is an important shrine in Kyoto. Nara was the first capital of Japan 1300 years ago, from 710 to 784. Nara Park 奈良公园 is a large park in central Nara. It houses the well known Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 and the Todai-ji Temple 东大寺. The Kasuga Taisha 春日大社 was established the same time as the capital! The Todai-ji Temple 东大寺 has huge grounds, covers most of the northern Nara Park.

At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589

by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi 丰臣秀吉

Left and Middle: Romon Gate; Right: shrine's main building (Honden)

One of the buildings behind the Romon Gate

A walking path leads to the top of the mountain

through a tunnel of torii gates

Torii gates,

hiking to the top of the mountain

Halfway to the top of the mountain 新池

The fox

messenger of the God of Rice

The fox

messenger of the God of Rice

Rang the wish bell

Toyotomi_Hideyoshi

丰臣秀吉

1537-1598

The Fushimi Inari Shrine 伏见稻荷大社 was built in 794. It is dedicated to the god of rice. Foxes are believed to be the messenger of this god, so there are many fox statues. Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of torii 千本鸟居. A torii (bird abode) 鸟居 is a traditional Japanese gate found at a shrine where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred Inari shrines. The many torii are donations by people and companies who have been successful in business. Each torii bearing the donor's name. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi 丰臣秀吉. Behind stands the shrine's main building (Honden) and other buildings. Even though the main reason people come to visit is because of the trails, the shrines on the side are also beautiful. It takes 2 to 3 hours to make a round trip across the mountain though.

Playing at the train

from Kyoto to Nara

Picture with Nara city

symbol, the deer

Nara Park (奈良公园) is a large park in central Nara. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji Temple 东大寺, Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社, Kofukuji Temple 兴福寺 and the Nara National Museum 奈良国立博物馆. Deer are believed to be the messenger of the gods, so deer became a symbol of the city. There are nearly 1200 deer freely roaming the Nara Park. They are tame, but will become violent if they believe you’re going to feed them. The doe park 鹿苑 is full of many doe, and you can feed them acorns or balls of grass (maybe it was dried deer dung).

Playing with a deer at the Kofukuji Temple 兴福寺

The Kofukuji Temple and the Five Storied Pagoda

兴福寺和五重塔

The Kofukuji Temple and the Five Storied Pagoda

兴福寺和五重塔

The Doe Park of Nara Park 奈良公园鹿苑

The stone lanterns line along the way to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社

Through the torii gate, wash our hands,
entering Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社

Buildings of Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社

A wedding ceremony at Kasuga Taisha Shrine 春日大社

Bronze lanterns hanging

from the buildings

Stone lanterns line along

the buildings

Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is Nara's most popular shrine. It was established in 710, the same time as the capital. Its responsibility is to protect the city of Nara, the Japanese ancient capital. Kasuga Taisha is famous for its lanterns donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings, while stone lanterns line the way to the shrine.

Picture of sumo 相扑

The deer & 若草山

八幡宫

三月堂

My favorite shrine

饭通神社

Wash hands before entering

Nigatsu-do Hall 二月堂

Teapot of

Nigatsu-do Hall

二月堂

Nigatsu-do Hall 二月堂

梵钟奈良时代

Entrance to the Great Buddha Hall 东大寺大佛殿入口

Big Buddha (Daibutsu) - his open hand by itself is as tall as a person
东大寺大佛殿

the Great Buddha Hall 东大寺大佛殿
the world's largest wooden structure

15 meter high bronze Buddha sitting in the middle

The exactly sitting position in the Great Buddha Hall
2 golden Buddhas sitting on the side, 1 bronze Buddha sitting in the middle

15 meter high bronze Buddha sitting in the middle

Squeezed through a hole in the pillar
(size of the Buddha's nostril)
is said to bring enlightment in the next life
Location: the Great Buddha Hall

The Todai-ji Temple
东大寺

The Todai-ji Temple
东大寺
closer look

The Todai-ji Temple 东大寺 was built in 752, when the capital of Japan was Nara. The Todai-ji Temple houses the largest wooden structure in the world! It is called the Daibutsu-den Hall 大佛殿 (the Great Buddha Hall). The inside has a 15 meter high Buddha. A hole in the pillar is said to bring enlightment in the next life for anyone who can squeeze through. The hole is barely the size of the Buddha’s nostril though. The Nigatsu-do Hall 二月堂 has a tea room outside of it. It provides a rest area for the visitors to drink tea and eat some snacks. There are tatami 榻榻米 to sit on. We exited the temple through a famous gate, the Nandai-mon Gate 南大门 (the Great South Gate). It is a large wooden gate watched over by two fierce looking statues, representing the Nio Guardian Kings 仁王.

Deer in front of the Nandai-mon Gate (the Great South Gate) 东大寺南大门

A temple close to the south gate of Todai-ji Temple 东大寺

All these places we visited were awesome. After 30-45 minutes of climbing upwards, the Fushimi Inari Shrine offers a pretty view of Kyoto. Nara Park’s deer make it a city symbol. The huge Todai-ji Temple has many parts and attractions to see. This third day in Japan was full of excellent things.