Inari, Nara and Osaka

On my way to Nara, I stop at Inari,  where the path to the inner shrine is reachable by a path of thousands of torii.

 

Nara used to be the capital of Japan, from 710 to 794.
Eight temples, shrines and ruins collectively form the historical monuments, a World Heritage site.

According to a legend, the mythological god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital. Since then the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country. There are more than 1,200 sika deer in Nara. Snack vendors sell sika senbei (deer crackers) to visitors so they can feed the animals.

Pindola was one of the 16 disciples of the buddha. He is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult powers. It is commonly believed in Japan that when a person rubs a part of his statue and then rubs the corresponding part of his own body, his ailment will disappear:

(cherry blossom ice cream)

And then one last stop for today, in Osaka, in order to see the castle:

  
And here is Osaka by night, thanks to Thomas Pesquet:

Another take away dinner, and time to go to bed after a long day