Japan Spring Time 2015: Day 4

Day 4 was spent on the nearby city of Nara. This city has a lot of temples and gardens. But the main attraction of the city was for the deers. Yes, deers and lots of them walking around Nara. :)

We started out pretty early that day. We didn't expect that there would be a lot of walking on Day 4. @_@ Nara map looked very simple and the attractions seemed quite near to each other. Like the other days, my pocket wifi was very useful for our navigation.

5:30 AM	Wake Up
7:00 AM	Breakfast
8:00 AM	Leave hostel
	1. Go to KYOTO Station. 2. Take Kinntetsu Kyoto/Tenri Line Exp. bound for YAMATOSADAIJI. 3. From YAMATOSADAIJI, transfer to Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp. bound for KINTETSUNARA
10:11 AM	ETA Nara

We chose the Kintetsunara Station as this is a 5-min walk from the station to the Nara Park itself.

First stop was the Kofukuji Temple. The main hall of the temple was under constructions so we just walked around the area.

Five-stories pagod

shrine

Then we headed to Isuien Garden and Yoshiki-en Garden. Both gardens are next to each other.

Isuien Garden

Yoshiki-en Garden

Todaiji Temple was about 10-15min walk from the gardens...

Lake outside of the temple

Todaiji Temple, with cherry blossoms

temple buddha

We were walking towards another temple or temple hall when we saw them. :) I bought some cookies from the "cookie vendor". They're special cookies for them. :) When they see you holding up a cookie, the deers immediately go up to you.

So friendly :)

After lunch we headed up to the Nigatsudo Hall. Here you'll see the overlooking view of Nara.

overlooking view of Nara

I think it was more than 30 minutes of slow walking from Nigatsudo going to Kasuga Taisha. On the way we passed this hill...looks like from the movies or from some video game or a wallpaper from Microsoft.

It was late afternoon we arrived at Kasuga Taisha. It was a long line going inside the shrine itself. A lot of people were praying that day.

the famous stone lanterns

After Kasuga Taisha, we headed back to the station. We did circumvent Nara Park I think. Since we started from the station and then ended at the station. See map below. From the Japan Guide site.

Here is the map I used when planning the places to visit. Check it out here as well

It was an exhausting day. The map itself, just look at it and all the places we visited. But even if our feet hurt that day, it was still fun. Because, along the way you get to pet the deers and get some exercise, breathing in the scenery and the relaxing pace of the outdoors.

6:00 PM	Ate dinner nearby
7:00 PM	ETD Kyoto
8:00 PM	ETA Kyoto

Going back to Kyoto is also by train. You can check the schedules at the Kintetsunara Station or check it on Hyperdia.

Expenses:
I lost track how much we had for lunch :)
Cookies - Y150
Kyoto to Nara - Y620/person (Y1860 for 3 people)
Nara - Kyoto - Y620/person (Y1860 for 3 people)
Todaiji Entrance - Y500/person
Isuien Garden - Y650?/person