BEFORE KYOTO (AND LONG BEFORE TOKYO) — way back in 710 — Nara was Japan’s capital. And while its reign lasted only 75 years, Kodai-ji Temple is a standing reminder of Nara’s glory days.
Stone lanterns and Horyu-ji
Nara is only 35 kilometers from Kyoto, a half-hour train ride. But while we were in the area we decided to continue on to Horyu-ji for a look at the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan. Actually we just wandered around the grounds enjoying the views and the tranquility before back-tracking to Nara. Truth be told, after our time in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet we are pretty much “Buddha-ed out.”
Once in a Red moon, full lunar eclipse from our hotel window
There was a full lunar eclipse last night and it is a holiday weekend so Nara was packed with tourists, both Western and Japanese, all there to see Daibutsu, the Great Buddha. It’s a bit of a walk from the station to Kodai-ji Temple, through the gauntlet of souvenir shops and a park filled with aggressively hungry deer hoping for a hand-out. The Japanese are much more polite and only bow, never pushing their wares.
Kodai-ji, home of the Great Buddha
Once we reached Kodai-ji we decided the $10 tariff was too steep to see another image of the Buddha, even a king-sized one. I know we aren’t being gracious tourists but one does get weary after a while.
