Nara Horyuji Temple
Trip Start
Jul 26, 2008
1
6
12
Trip End
Aug 03, 2008
Nara,
Kinki,
Japan
Monday, August 11, 2008
Then I got up at nine, checked out, and left for the first destination, Nishi Honganji. The reason to visit it was the close distance from my guesthouse to the temple. Otherwise, I never visited there, although it was designated as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. The Karamon Gate was beautiful, but that was all. Nothing special to see in the precinct. Toji Temple, a World Heritage, was also close to my guesthouse, but from the experience, I decided to skip it without hesitation
Horyuji Temple
. Actually, the main destination of my trip was Horyuji Temple. Because it was a little bit far from other temples or shrines of Nara, I didn't visit there on the school expedition, although it was one of the most attractive temples of Japan, not only of Nara. Some buildings of the temple was the oldest wooden buildings of the world and designated as World Heritages. I had to walk 20 mins from JR Horyuji Station. In addition, the entrance fee was expensive, 1000 yen, compared with the other temples' fee. Still the temple was worth a visit. It was enough to make me feel the pride of the ancient capital of Nara. The pagoda was more than 30m high and the oldest of Japan. The lotus pond showed the exact image of Buddism beauty. The museum was full of statues which I had seen in the history textbooks. When I left the temple, I was fully satisfied.
On the next day, I visited Murouji Temple in the east of Nara. The temple had the nickname "Wemen's Koya", because women were not secluded from the temple, although Koyasan prohibited them from coming to the temple. Murouji temple was 6 km far from Murouguchi-Ono station. The bus to Murouji temple was available only once an hour and, in my case, I had to wait for the next bus for 45 mins. The guys I met at the station took a taxi, but I decided to take a walk, because I had plenty of time
Prince Shotoku
. Only a five minute walk led me to Onodera Temple, which boasted a Buddha carved into a mountainside. After passing by the Buddha, there was a fork: one was a well-paved road and the other was a hard, but good hiking course leading to the temple. I took the latter, but I found I shouldn't have taken the course in the end, when I returned on the well paved road to the station by bus. I remembered the old lady who I asked a direction at the foot of Mt. Murou was stunned to hear that I took the hard hiking coures. Anyway, when I reached the temple, I had only 45 mins left to see the inside, because I had a plan to take a bus to go back to the station. Otherwise, I had to give up the next destination of that day. All in all, the temple was not so grand, but very beautiful, but it would have been more beautiful in autumn. The pagoda was Japan's shortest, 16m high, as built outside of the building, but the white and orenge tower was picturesque in the greenery when I saw it from the middle of the steps in front of the pagoda. Two guardians of the orenge gate were red and blue each. The humpback bridge across Murou River to the temple was vividly orenge. I had stayed there for only half an hour, but I liked the beauty of the temple.
The next destination was Akame Shijuhachitaki Waterfalls in Mie Pref.. Shijuhachi means "many", not 48 in Japanese language in this case. I visited there more than 25 years ago with my family. I didn't remember anything about it except that Akame was the hometown of Ninjas. They said Ninjas were practicing their skills in the waterfall area. Anyway, it was about 3 P.M., when I reached Kintetsu Akameguchi Station which was the closest. The bus I took was the last one to Akame Waterfalls and took me 15 minutes
Lotus Pond in Horyuji Temple
. The driver gave me a discount coupon for the entrance fee. So the bus fare was 340 yen for one way and the discounted entrance fee was 240 yen. Passing by some teahouses, the bus arrived at the terminal of Akame Waterfall. Then I walked for a few minutes to the entrance.The ticket included the Salamander Center located at the entracne. I was surprised at the Japanse Giant Salamander. It was much larger than I expected. On the hiking course, I saw some beautiful or exciting waterfalls including Fudotaki, Senjutaki, and Nunobikitaki, but I had to see them quickly, because the last bus to the train station already left just after my arrival and I had to spare time to go back to the station on foot. In this season, a couple of waterfalls were lit up with illuminations at night and the entrace would be free after five. So a lot of couples were still around the area even when I left there at half past five. On the way back to the station, I found a camp site on the bank of Akame River. The cost is 400 yen per adult, but it needs a reservataion. It is suitable for a family especially in summer vacation.
