Nara - 6 April 2011

Nara is first permanent capital of Japan and is a 40 minute train ride from Kyoto. It has eight world heritage sites and is a really nice town to visit.

Our first stop was the Kofuku-ji Temple where there are heaps of deer just roaming around the streets, parks and temples.  According to the map there was supposed to be a deer enclosure - but someone must have left the gate open. It was hilarious watching tourists who were trying to feed the deer, they got mobbed. 



Kofuku-ji Hall

The highlight of Nara's temples was the Todai-ji Temple and its Great Buddha Hall, called Daibutsusen.

Engineering fun facts:
1. The temple building is the largest wooden structure in the world at 48.74 metres high x 57.01 metres wide x 50.48 metres deep.
2. The current structure is a mere 2/3 of the size of the original.
3.  The 14.98 metre high Buddha contains 437 tonnes of bronze and 130kg of gold.



Todai-ji Temple



Lanterns outside of the Daibutsuden Hall.