Nara (10 images)
Nara, 20 miles to the south of Kyoto, was the
original capital of Japan (710-784 AD). As such it has a number of
temples over a thousand years old, built partially as a display of
wealth and power by the new government of Japan.
Nara is compact. It is easy to see most of the famous sites in a day
trip from Kyoto. Many of the temples are concentrated in a large park
(Nara-koēn), which is filled with deer. The deer, considered divine
messangers of a Shinto god, have multiplied since World War II and now
threaten to take over. The deer nudge and beg for food, which was fun
to watch. Someone in Nara must be cleaning up after them.
Click a picture to see a larger view.
