Nara

We met Jess and Ryan at Kyoto station and travelled 45 minutes by local train for a day out in Nara which was Japan's capital in the 8th century. There are white tailed deer here as in Miyajima but some of these have learnt to bow their heads when they know you have crackers to feed them.

Our first stop was a large temple which unfortunately was under wraps for a refurb. There was a model to show what it will look like and you could buy a roof tile for the new roof and write a message on it.

We happened across a 100 year old traditional house which was free to look around - and a bonus; they dressed Jess and I in kimonos.

There is a good reason for this photo;

This was one of the pieces of art dotted around the house. When you look into the rear end of the deer you see a landscape with real people walking around.....honest.

Pretty origami;

We ate our packed lunches sitting by a large pond then carried on walking round shrines etc. It was a good day trip.