Nara, Japan

On Nov. 1 we went to Nara with my student Ikuko. She is also our Japanese teacher. We went to go see the biggest Buddha in all of Japan. The thing that shocked me the most about Nara were the hundreds of tamed deer strolling down the streets like they were people. As you can see it was also a dreary and rainy day.

You can even buy deer cookies to feed them. It cost 150 yen. This woman was selling them. Also what's really awesome is that the deer bow for the cookies. It's custom in Japan to bow when saying "thank you". I guess these  really are Japanese deer. I wonder how they learned it.

150 yen deer cookies

Will feeds the deer!

The temple was quite amazing. The Buddha was huge! I couldn't really get a good picture of it, because it was so dark in there. I am still trying to figure out my camera. Maybe next time!

outside of the temple

At the Vatican many people light candles and say a prayer. At a temple many people burn incense before entering.

Also at the temple you can buy these wooden things and write a request or I guess you call it a prayer. Then you hang it on this wall. They are mostly in Japanese, but we found one in English. I am not quite sure what the English one is saying, though.

Hang your request and prayers here.

I was told that you can get certificates in each temple that you visit in Japan. These certificates verify that you have indeed visited. I've heard that many people make a book with all the temples that they visit in Japan. Here is one worker making the certificates. They do come at a small price, but it goes to pay for upkeep to the temple.

When we went outside of the temple I noticed tons of little pieces of paper tied all over this rail and post. I asked what they were. Ikuko told me that they were fortunes. You can buy fortunes in the temple. After you have read them you tie them up.

Here we are standing in front of a strange wooden Buddha wearing a crazy red outfit.

Lastly, does this not look like what you imagine Japan to be?