Nara and Nishiki Market

Nara is located about 60 kilometers east of Kyoto and was the capital of Japan for a short time in the 8th century.  This was the time Buddhism was taking root in Japan with the support of the ruling class. And this led to the construction of Todaiji which is the largest wooden structure in the world housing a huge brass Buddha.  We walked for about 1.5 kilometers from the train station to Todaiji.  On the way we met the famous tame deer of Nara.  Since the 8th century the deer in the area have been protected and have been quite tame.  Stalls on the street sell 'shika senbei' or deer crackers to tourists to feed to the deer.  Our kids - who see deer everyday in Qualicum - could not get enough of the Nara deer taking lots of pictures including selfies with the animals.

Todaiji is the largest wooden structure in the world and houses a 'daibutsu' or big Buddha 49 ft tall.  It is quite impressive.  In the four corners, of the building housing the daibutsu are wooden statues of guardian spirits just as tall as the Buddha made up of hundreds of interlocking pieces.  They are very dynamic and are masterpieces themselves.  The building is held up by pillars about 1.5 meters in diameter.  In one of the pillars a hole has been carved at the bottom of one of the pillars that is the same diameter as the nostrils on the giant Buddha.  There is a legend that says a worker was accidentally sealed in the head of the Buddha during its construction and that he was able to escape by slipping out of one of the nostrils.  People who are able to slip through the hole in the pillar are said to have a long life - just like the worker who escaped from the head over 1,000 years ago.  Many of our students slipped through.

We got lunch in Nara and then returned to Kyoto.  After a break at the hotel we took the subway to Nishiki Market.  This is the oldest food market in Kyoto and runs along a narrow covered street.  Here you can try a wide range of local food.  Very interesting place to spend some time looking and tasting.

Matt and octopus stuffed with quail egg