On the way to Nara for the Second trip of the 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
It’s nice sunny day and Mt. Fuji is so beautiful with rice field.
This stage of rice field is a symbol of spring, getting ready to be planted.
I had a candy of Ise Kusuri Honpo (Ise Medicine Shop).
It’s black sugar flavor, but it tastes a bit of herbal medicine.
Well, the name of shop already gave me the assurance because it’s from Ise where there is Ise Shrine, Japan’s first shrine.
Kyoto
Again, I took a Shinkansen for Shin-Osaka, then changed to a bus for Nara.
Yodogawa (Yodo River), Osaka
Nara is basin and a historical city.
There are many temples and shrines because Nara used to be the capital over 1300 years ago (in 701).
No. 7 Okadera (also known as Ryugaiji)
To reach the main temple, we need to go up the steep slope to reach a main temple.
This temple is famous for dissociate from bad luck, and temple’s Buddha is the largest Buddha made by clay.
On the way to the main temple, I hit a bell to dissociate bad luck.
Then, prayed at the main temple.
This temple is also know as Ryugaiji.
The direct translation for Ryugaiji is Dragon-Cover-Temple.
A Buddhist Monk, Gien shoho, got rid of a bad-spirit-dragon into a well and covered it.
After visiting Okadera, I had a simple and nice lunch.
I opened covers…..nice.
Rice is akamai (direct translation is red rice) – ancient rice!
This ancient rice is delicious!
After lunch, I still had time to visit Ishibutai Tumulus, a stone chamber – the tomb of Umako Soga.
No. 6 Minami Hokkeji (also known as Tsubosakadera)
This is not a Pagoda, Tahoden – a building to keep a treasure such as a Buddha.
This is a three-stories pagoda next to the main temple.
This temple is good for eyes.
I asked for a special prayer for my eyes and bought an eye drops.
Eye drops is very refreshing.
After praying at the main temple, I walked through Tenjikumon (Old India Gate) to see a big standing Kannon (she is 20 m tall) and sleeping Buddha (8 m)!
No. 8 Hasedera
This temple is very famous for many stairs and a tall Hasedera Style Kannon (10m).
Kannon is a goddess but she holds a stick that Jizo holds.
She can function as Kannon and Jizo.
I regret I’m not allowed to take any photos of Kannon but I’m so blessed that I could touch her.
This is the main temple today.
This is the original temple.
When I was going down, I could see many stairs that I climbed from this point.
Extra Temple. Houkiin
This temple is small and feel cozy.
This tree is a good luck tree against evils.
It is a nice season to take a break because the weather is just nice – not cold nor hot – and the area is so green and air is fresh.
I checked-in at Kashihara Royal Hotel, one of Royal Hotel Group Hotels.
I’ve been introducing a room from other Royal Hotel Group hotel.
A room might look familiar because the style is almost the same; however, a room is spacious and equipped with basic needs.
Dinner was nice; I have no complaints.
I enjoyed local sake: Miyokiku.
This sake is donated to Kashihara Shrine, the largest shrine in Nara.
Of course, it’s verrrrrrry nice.
Okay, time to go sleep now.
sonokotchi 