Friday, December 31, 2010

Nara: Buddhism is Huge


Established over 1,300 years ago, Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan. Heavily influenced by Buddhism, Nara features numerous temples and other structures of great historic interest.

Traveling to Nara from Osaka is relatively easy. Riding the Kintetsu Nara Line, starting from Namba Station, is perhaps the best way to make this trip, although JR and Hanshin also offer reasonable train routes to this destination. Fare on the Kintetsu Line will cost 540¥ and take 40 minutes of travel time.

The main attractions of Nara lie in an area known as Nara Park. This spacious area is home to the Daibutsu, a massive structure that claims to be the world's largest wooden building. Inside, lies another giant object, the Daibutsu-den, one of the world's largest statues of Buddha. There are several more statues throughout the complex, including fierce looking warriors that guard the entrance.

Around Nara Park you'll undoubtably come across many wild deer. These animals are tame around humans and can be fed with crackers that are sold throughout the area. But keep in mind, with a handful of crackers you'll quickly garner attention from these snack hungry animals!

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