Japan 2023

We left Kyoto and drove about an hour to Kyoto to see yet another temple. This time it was  to a Shin Kasuga shrine and Todaji-ji Temple. It houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese as Daibutso.  First built in 768AD by order of Emporer Shotoko.  The doors were extremely tall and the hall had many ikebana floral arrangements. Maybe this was one temple too many! Part of the experience is the free roaming deer that wander around the complex and Nara park. You can buy biscuits to feed them. Japanese consider them to be messengers from the Gods. So they are protected and not eaten at all. Todai-ji is said to be the largest wooden building in the world. The current structure was built in 1692, the original from 852 was one third larger again.  Bigger and older than the wooden govt house in Wellington! Next was a wander along Dotonburi St in Osaka to our lunch place. All the restaurants place oversized plastic representations of t...

Kyoto, another hot sunny day and first stop was Heian Shrine to explore their gardens. Lots of cherry blossoms mainly the weeping cherries blooming now as the Sakura are dropping. Then we visited Nijo-Jo Castle former power base of Shogun Tonugawa leyasau. He ended the shogun era by restoring the Emperor to power and giving the castle to him. No photos were allowed inside but it had squeaky floorboards that sound like nightingales chirping when you walk. This was to alert the Shogun to any intruders - an early alarm. The walls were painted a golden colour with different Japanese style paintings in the rooms. Often designed to show the power and status of the Shogun  eg Tigers and leopards, Chrysanthemums, peonies, sukura etc . The entrance gate was very elaborate with painted and gilded woodwork depicting dragons, flowers and herons. After a Japanese pizza lunch ( one of the best of the tour) we headed to Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) that started life in 1397, as the r...