Kobe stands as one of the prominent port cities, and when one thinks of Kobe, a place that naturally comes to mind is the area around the iconic “Kobe Port Tower.” The Kobe Port Tower finds its home in the “Meriken Park.” Meriken Park is a picturesque waterfront park created by reclaiming the sea between the bustling Meriken Wharf and ...
After exploring the northern part of Nara Park, including Todai-ji and related sites, I crossed the park and headed south. In the southern part of Nara Park, you can find “Ukimido (浮見堂),” a pavilion built on the pond. “Ukimido (浮見堂) in the Southern Part of Nara Park” Ukimido is located in the southern part of Nara Park. It’s a hexagonal ...
In the heart of Nara Park, at Todai-ji (Eastern Great Temple), you can discover the world’s largest bronze statue. If you move east from the Daibutsuden, the main hall housing the Great Buddha, toward Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do, you’ll encounter the “Todai-ji Shoro (Bell Tower)” along the way. “Todai-ji Shoro (Bell Tower)” As you exit the main hall of Todai-ji, the ...
Adjacent to the well-known Todai-ji Nigatsu-do and Sangatsu-do in Nara Park, there is a small shrine that might not attract much attention from visitors, especially those overshadowed by the grandeur of Todai-ji. “Nara Park, Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine” Tamukeyama Hachimangu Shrine is quite renowned among the Hachiman shrines nationwide, dedicated to Hachiman, the god of war, and equivalent to Emperor Ojin. ...
In Nara Park, you can explore the world’s largest bronze Great Buddha, located in Todai-ji (Eastern Great Temple). While most people tend to appreciate the bronze statue at Todai-ji’s main hall and then move on, if you venture a bit east from Todai-ji, you’ll discover “Nigatsu-do (February Hall)” and “Hokkedo (Sangatsu-do) (Eastern Great Temple Lotus Sutra Hall),” also known as ...
The heart of Nara’s travel experience can be considered “Nara Park.” This park is a sizable area that combines several regions. Thanks to its vastness, the park houses various tourist attractions and cultural heritage sites. What makes Nara Park especially unique and vibrant is the presence of “deer.” Throughout Nara Park, you can encounter numerous deer, creating an atmosphere where ...
After exploring various places within Nara Park, it was time for lunch. There are several restaurants inside Nara Park, and especially if you head south from Todai-ji’s southern gate, you’ll find a cluster of restaurants and general stores. Despite browsing through different places, I couldn’t find the exact menu I was looking for. Even though it was late September, the ...
Yoshikien is a Japanese garden located within Nara Park. In contrast to the adjacent “Isuien Garden,” which requires an entrance fee, Yoshikien is free to enter, making it a more accessible option. During this trip, I had initially planned to explore Isuien Garden as well, but unfortunately, the garden wasn’t open at that time. Instead, I had the opportunity to ...
Opposite Noborioji Observatory in Nara Park and west of Nara Bus Terminal stands the “Nara Prefectural Office.” While primarily an administrative hub for the Nara region, the building hosts an observatory at its top, offering panoramic views of Nara Park and its surroundings. Given Nara’s abundance of cultural heritage, strict development regulations seem to limit the construction of tall buildings. ...
Nara Park encompasses various smaller parks, including Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji. One of the parks where deer sightings are common is Noborioji Park. Located conveniently near Nara Bus Terminal and directly opposite Nara Prefectural Office, Noborioji Park is the go-to place if you’re eager to see deer in Nara. “Easy Deer Sightings Near Nara Bus Terminal at Noborioji Park” While deer ...
Kofuku-ji, located at the heart of Nara Park, is a Buddhist temple and a symbol of Nara. It is home to the second tallest pagoda in Japan, standing at five stories. With a history dating back to 1399, this temple originated from the aspirations of Fujiwara no Kamatari, who founded it to pray for the recovery of his wife, Kagami ...
In the southern part of Nara Park, you’ll discover a small pond known as Sarusawa Pond. This picturesque spot offers a charming atmosphere and serves as an excellent location for capturing photos with Kofuku-ji Temple as the backdrop. The pond is an artificial water feature with a circumference of 360 meters. “Sarusawa Pond in the Southern Part of Nara Park” ...