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The Essence of Japan (continued)

We depart the hotel next mornng and walk to the adjacent railway station. This morning we are travelling to Osaka by the Nozomi 700 Bullet Train, departing at 9:13am and arriving at Osaka at 10:38am.  As previously, this is a very smooth and fast journey. The views from the train are mostly of urban localities, though there are some fields, none of them paddy fields. We have low cloud and light rain. 

From Osaka, we are driven to Nara, where arrive at about 11:45am and then have until 1pm to find ourselves some lunch. Akiko has brought us to a long, narrow arcade with a glass roof, where there is a choice of places to eat (right), plus some shops. We choose to eat at the St Marc Caf which has a western theme for its food, and our selection is one of their meal deals which consists of a Panini, strawberry croissant, and a coffee (left). We then go to Nara Park (right)

Nara Park is a 1,300-acre area where most of the citys temples are located and where over 1,200 wild deer roam freely - the deer are regarded as messengers of the gods. Akiko has brought some large biscuits to tempt the deer with, and Jeanette feeds one. The temple that we have come to see in the park is the Todai-jiTemple.
 
This temple complex consists of the Great Buddha Hall, sub-temples, halls, pagodas, and gates of exceptional historical and architectural interest. It is also the largest wooden structure in the world, and was completed in 752. Inside the Great Buddha Hall is the seated figure of the worlds largest bronze image of the Buddha (below centre) which deployed hundreds of tons of molten bronze to make the casting. Fires and earthquakes have dislodged the head several times, the current head dates from 1692.
 
Behind the Buddha is a small hole bored into a large wooden pillar - a popular belief holds that if you can squeeze through the hole you will be protected from bad things in the future; there is a queue of people waiting to squeeze through. Near the Buddha there are a number of much smaller statues; these are Enlightened Beings or Heavenly Guardians. Our tour of the temple and its surroundings lasts 1-hours

Photography is not allowed in the series of rooms that we pass through, and it is difficult outside due to the heavy rain. The rooms are decorated with images of large cats, cherry trees, and birds. There are some splendid ceilings and the floors squeak as we walk on them, but it is hard to say that the noise resembles a bird. Despite the rain, we explore the gardens (below left) that have a wealth and variety of rocks that have been brought here from various parts of Japan. We leave the castle at 4:20pm and are at our hotel 10-minutes later. 

We now drive onto Kyoto, but the light rain we have been experiencing now becomes heavy. The itinerary calls for us to visit the geisha district of Kyoto, but the weather results in a change of plan. Instead, we visit Nijo Castle. (below) This castle has few fortifications, instead it is best know for its unusually ornate interiors and so-called nightingale floors. These floors were designed to make bird-like squeaking sounds when walked upon, a warning of possible intruders.

Our first objective the next day is the Golden Temple (Kinkaku-ji) that lies to the northwest of Kyoto. On arrival, we approach the temple area along a tree-shaded path, then emerge into a garden with a lake. On the other side of the lake stands the graceful three-storey temple (below), thats totally covered in gold leaf and is topped by a bronze phoenix. Despite the lack of sunshine, the temple is attractively reflected in the lake, and makes a beautiful image. We have time here to explore the gardens and view the temple from various angles before departing for the Zen temple, Ryoan-ji
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