Nara koen and Ryokan Nanten-en, in Amami

Yesterday was a great day! After a nice breakfast at Doutor, Erik and I took a walk to Nara Koen. We started out walking past Kofuku-ji, a five storied pagoda Buddhist temple, and there we had our first encounters with the famous deers, almost tame, out looking for snacks. Around Nara Koen deer cookies are sold from little stands. If you buy your self a pack you'll soon be surrounded by a bunch of deer fighting over the crumbs. 

Try avoid feeding them! :)

After a short walk through the nice surroundings of Nara we found Yoshikien Garden, surprisingly admission free! According to the information pamphlet it was the site of the Manshuin, a residence of the high priests of Kofukju-ji temple. Completed in the Meiji era, 1918. It's an old style Japanese garden with three sections, one Pond garden, near the main building, designed to become one with the building and it's surroundings. Manages quite well I think, truly a beautiful place to walk around! The sound of the running water and the birds, the nice views and the calmness is soothing for your mind.

Moving on we found the moss garden, with a traditional tea ceremonial house facing it. Quite different from the pond garden, but nice in it's own way.

Continuing to the highest part we found our selves walking through the Tea ceremonial flower garden, a beautiful place to stroll around! I could easily picture my self as a samurai walking the paths around the garden, pondering the dilemma of life and death, a la The last samurai. Imagination took me back to 19^th century Japan for a while. :)

Pond garden, with the main building to the right

Moss garden.

Stone lantern in moss garden.

Detail from the tea cermonial flower guarden.

Walking the paths going back in time.

From there we walked through some really nice quarters of Nara, with old style Japanese houses lining the streets and reached Toda-ji, the big tempel that houses the Great Buddha! And he's big! Huge! The building has burnt down two times, so now, on the third go, it's ”only” 2/3 of it's former size, and still it counts as one of the largest wooden structures in the world! So cool to walk around in. 

Toda-ji, housing the Buddha.

The great Buddha, really huge!

Just outside the entrance to the big hall I found a somewhat smaller and weathered Buddha. The sign underneath it said that if you touch a part of the Buddha and then touch the same part on your own body it would help you heal any injuries! He didn't look so nice, actually a bit scary... Think I'll take him home to see if he does his wonders at the ER to! :) 

The healing Buddha!

Time travels fast when you have fun, and it was time to leave Nara for Amami, a small village between Osaka and Nara. After a little more than a hour of travel we found our way through the tiny village to the ryokan, Nanten-en. Just what I've been looking for! Traditional style Japanese rooms, with tatami mats, futons, a room maid in kimono greeting you and a little onsen where you can wash away the wear and tears of the day and all your thoughts and troubles!

We did a little walk through the village to one of it's small shrines, Kanii-ji. A small shrine with beautiful surroundings. Most of the village is beautiful, crouched between the mountains and a lot of forest surrounding it. Fresh air, birds singing and peaceful. Love it!

Nanten-en, entrance.

View over the Amami village

Erik at the stairs to Kanii-ji

The peaceful forest tempel.

Had a nice, long bath at the onsen, soaking my self in the hot water and again letting my imagination bring me back in time. Easy to imagine your self staying at the ryokan on your way walking between Nara and Osaka.

Afterwards I enjoyed tempura soba in the room.

The maid have now put out the futons and it's time for some well deserved sleep. As I started saying, a great day, with many of the experiences I've been looking for but haven't had the opportunity to try before.

Dinner in our room - Take (means bamboo).

Scroll on our wall. Notice the little flower arrangement and the small bowl.

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