Nara...again

Since I have been in Japan I have had the distinct pleasure of visiting the ancient capital of Japan: Nara, more times than I have fingers.
There are a few things you need to know about Nara: first off Nara was the original capital of Japan until the 9^th century when the capital was moved to Kyoto, where it remained until the middle of the 16^th century. Second, Nara city has become a very touristy city. It's many features include a large number of temples and shrines, most prominent among these is Todaiji temple, which houses the largest Buddha sculpture, measuring about 45 feet height, in Japan. The second is the great Buddha of Kamakura. Nara city also has a great museum of Nara history, some great restaurants, Nara station and a large amount of tourist shops where you can buy items like katanas.

Finally, and the thing many people don't realize about Nara is that Nara city is not a big city by any stretch of the imagination. Consequently, most of Nara Prefecture is rural farmland and suburban towns. So once you have done the city tour you are done. If you visit Japan sometime soon and head down to Kansai, I highly recommend you spend a day, maybe even two if you like. Thirteen times is not necessary.

Wisdom of the Day: Variety is the spice of life.