Today’s day trip destination was Nara Park. I was compelled to visit Nara was because of the huge population of tame deer that populate the 660 hectare park. The myth behind this city says that as the sun broke through the clouds, clearing a path that shon down on earth, a god rode down from the sky on a white deer. Ok, so I might have exaggerated a part or two, but if the story didn’t make you lift an eyebrow then I don’t know what would. The city of Nara greets and takes care of the deer, and for this reason alone it deserves a look around.

Every morning I made myself quick instant oats again, but the bland taste didn’t appeal to my taste buds today. I decided to leave a little early this morning to find a place to sit down and enjoy something other than oats and granola bars on the go. On the way to the park my eyes caught a glimpse of a Mister Donut tucked away in a shopping district across the street. My eyes instantly glazed over and my mind was forced to make an emergency detour. Having been so health-conscious throughout the trip I decided to treat myself to something nice. The selection inside was spectacular, with donuts that I’ve never seen before. The meal I ordered included chicken noodle soup, warm tea and a donut of my choice. I knew the mind was a couple steps behind the stomach because when the meal arrived so did an extra donut. The prices were right anyway, no returns were going to be made today.

Spotting a deer became as common as seeing a person when I got closer to the park. There were fences put in place for their safety, but for the most part they were accustomed to graze anywhere they felt was in their best interest. The deer were very tame and human’s attention didn’t bother them one bit. If you had the need to pet or hug them you might get away with it; although a treat might have to be sacrificed to do so. I found that if you’re going to buy food, be prepared to for a bunch of deer heads invade your personal bubble. These deer have a specialty and it’s to scare you. Don’t expect them to just roll over and say please just because you’re carrying food. From some of the pictures below, you can see the individual holding food will get chased down; even stalked! Makes for great photos!

The rest of the park was an enjoyable experience. There were the odd small shrines scattered throughout, but the one to visit is Todai-ji Temple. It doesn’t stack up to what Kyoto would offer, but it has its own uniqueness. Not only does Todai-ji house Japan’s largest Buddha statue, but it is also the world’s largest wooden building. After a reconstruction in 1692, only two-thirds of the original temple still stands.

As I made a full circle around the park I diverted my trip and headed to the Nara City Museum of Photography. As soon as I left the park, I found myself in a residential area north of Nara City. Traditional Japanese houses populated the surrounding streets and alleys, as if out of an old book about Japanese architecture. The quiet neighborhood was phenomenal to walk through; every house bore a small garden (some more extravagant than others), clay tile roofs, sheltered parking to fit an economic car, and wood being the material of choice for the rest of the house. Absolutely stunning, I would live in one!

The Nara City Museum of Photography was designed and built in 1992 by Kisho Kurokawa. For half a century, master photographer Taikichi Irie spent time documenting festivals in the ancient Yamato area around Nara. Irie generously donated his entire collection of photographs to the city of Nara, which led to the construction of the museum. Nara still breathes a rich historical inheritance dating back to the great artistic and religious flowering of the Tempyo Era in the eighth century. The Museum of Photography is a focal point highlighting the individual citizens’ culture that continually preserves this legacy. The highlights were minimal and the collection pretty uniform, although pieces dating back to the 40′s and 50′s added interest. If you have time, drop by, but is not all that recommended.

There wasn’t much else to do in Nara so I took the next train out to Kyoto, my next destination. I booked Kyoto for two full days and I was going to make sure I didn’t waste any time. Seeing as I didn’t prebook any accommodations, I was lucky to find a beautiful traditional Japanese-style inn called Ryokan Kyoka, just a 6 minute walk from Kyoto JR station. The hot bath, yukata robe, and cozy futon that awaited me made for a relaxing night.

Couldn’t finish it off without posting another deer photo! Enjoy!

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