Before arriving at Kyoto proper, we took a side journey to the national spiritual park of Nara. Once — over a thousand years ago — it was the original capital of Japan. In the present day, it contains numerous shrines and temples that date back almost a dozen centuries. We visited two in particular…
TODAI-JI
Centred around the world’s largest wooden building — and an equally massive bronze statue of Buddha at the heart of the Daibutsu-den — it’s one of Japan’s most important historic sites…and it comes with 2000 sacred deer, freely wandering the grounds.
KASUGA TAISHA
This shrine, founded by the Fujiwara family, is actually rebuilt every 20 years. It’s a glorious location: wooded hills surrounding acres of vermillion-coloured architecture, and all linked together by an incredible sense of peace and tranquility.
COMING SOON: Kyoto
