Day 13 A trip to Nara

Not for the first time we struggled to find the correct metro line, this wasn't helped by the fact that so many stations contain massive shopping centres, as usual, asking did the trick.

On our way to the station we passed a luggage delivery van, so this is how it's done!

After around an hour on the train we arrived in Nara, along with the crowds

So many people feeding the deer with the special deer crackers that they had bought. The deer were very close to the station and along side the road.

After a drink we headed to Yoshikien Gardens where we managed to lose a lot of the crowds

and next door into Isuien Gardens, even more spectacular

Then walked past many of the famous deer, who have learnt to bow for one of the crackers

onto the main Temple, Todaiji, which until 1998, was the largest wooden structure in the world

It was heaving, the queue to see the Buddha, which is the largest bronze buddha in the world, was enormous so we didn't bother joining it, we just peered in from outside

We walked up through Nara park towards Hokkedo Temple and stopped for some welcome lunch in this restaurant 

 before looking around

After an ice cream, we re joined the crowds and the deer and headed to Mount Wakalusa

Walking up to the Kasuga-taisha Shrine

We strolled back towards the station and had a quick look at the queues for the Todaiji Temple, but they were even bigger!

Had an easier to navigate return journey, with several changes at nice small stations. After a bit of a rest we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and a glass or two of red wine.