Nara & Kyoto: Travel Story of Culture and History

 The world is a big history book and to travel is to flip the pages.

Can’t really point out why or how it came about but I have always been fascinated by old and historical pieces. It just paints a vivid picture to a good story and while I am no professional writer, I sure am a consumer of good tales but maybe more so than anything, a good historical story teaches me lessons ~ of good conversational fun fact and of wisdom one which I don’t have to necessarily experience to learn.

Being one of the oldest countries in the world, Japan surely has lots of stories to tell and lessons to impart. And with very little time and too many places to wander about, we tried our very best to explore as much we can on each day we allotted to explore the country’s ancient culture and traditions through its historical windows in Kansai Region – Nara and Kyoto. While much to our chagrin that our feet failed to take us in all that are listed in our itinerary, it is with fond memories that I share to you the places we visited in a beautiful autumn season of Japan.

In this blog:

1. Nigiwai-no-ie (100+ year-old traditional house)
2. Nara Park
• Kasuga Taisha
• Todai-ji Temple
3. Mt. Wakakusa
4. Fushimi Inari Shrine
5. Arashiyama District
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Salon de Royal 
6. Nishiki Market

NARA

Famous for its hundreds of free-roaming deer, Nara is Japan’s first permanent capital established in the year 710. Located less than an hour train ride from Osaka and/or Kyoto, this old city which was once called Heijo houses eight (8) UNESCO World Heritage Sites living up to this day to tell a tale about the Japanese’s past.

1. Nigiwai-no-ie

This traditional Japanese townhouse with over 100 years of history is located in the central Naramachi. The houses within the vicinity are adorned with intricate wooden structures, sliding doors, and tatami-matted rooms creating an immersive environment for visitors to an era long gone. 

As a Filipino who grew up in a provincial rural community, some traditional items in this house reminded me of home such as sinibak na kahoy (chopped wood) and palayok sa kalan (pot on a stove) – items of which are used in cooking back in the days when gas and electric stoves are yet to be a thing.

2. Nara Park 

Established in 1880, Nara Park is the location of the City’s many main attractions including Kasuga Taisha and Todai-ji Temple. It is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer who are believed to be sacred messenger of the Shinto gods and have become one of the country’s national treasures.

But maybe more so than anything, Nara Park is one the many beautiful places in Kansai Region where you will fall in love with the beauty of the Fall season. 

• Kasuga Taisha

A few minutes-walk pass through Nara Park is a shrine considered to be one of the most sacred and most celebrated in all of Japan. Built in 768, Kasuga Taisha is a place where numerous gods are enshrined and now attracts devotees and tourist alike – it being known for its colors and photogenic setting.

• Tōdai-ji Temple

Once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, Tōdai-ji Temple has been designated as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Todaiji's main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), held the record as the world's largest wooden building, which houses the Great Buddha, one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha standing at 14.98 meters. 

This historical structure in all its glory, took a total of roughly 2.6 million people to build.

To the East of Tōdai-ji Temple lies Nigatsu-dō or Second Month Hall, a smaller temple also part of Todai-ji but an important complex in its own right.

3. Mt. Wakakusa

Standing at about 350 meters tall and offers unobstructed views over Nara City is a grass covered mountain behind Nara Park and a few minute-walk from Tōdai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha.

Every winter on the fourth Saturday of January, Mount Wakakusa's slopes are burned during the spectacular Wakakusa Yamayaki preceded by a short fireworks display. The origins of the event are unclear. One theory claims that it resulted from a boundary dispute, while another claims the fires were used to drive away wild boars.

KYOTO

Served as the imperial capital of Japan of over 1,000 years, Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japanese culture housing 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Surrounded by rich natural beauty, this is a city with a unique repertoire of compelling history that has been refined over the years and are still deeply rooted in the lives of residents to this day.

We visited this City on our third full day and was unfortunately too tired to continue midday resulting to a cut-off itinerary. Nevertheless, we have been able to jump through various touristy places.

1. Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari is a Kyoto must see being the most important of several thousand Shinto shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Considered to be the most familiar shrines to Japanese people, Inari shrines are often surrounded by fox statues across the shrine grounds of which are thought to be Inari’s messengers.

 

Located in southern Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha has over 1,000 bright orange torii gates donated by individuals and companies because of the belief that is with divine properties for business prosperity. Each donation starts at around 400,000 JPY for a smaller gate and increases up to over one million yen for a large gate. You will find the name of the donor inscribed at the back of each torii gates which snakes up through the forest and into the mountains.

2. Arashiyama District

Arashiyama is a pleasant, touristy district in the Western outskirts of Kyoto. Particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons, the entire region is designated by the Japanese government as a Place of Scenic Beauty.

• Togetsukyō Bridge

A landmark for over 400 years, Togetsukyō is a wooden bridge that spans the Katsura River which flows leisurely through Saga Arashiyama in front of Arashiyama Mountain. A popular location for period films, the place draws large crowds during spring cherry blossoms and fall colors because of its spectacular scenery. 

• Salon de Royal

Located across Togetsukyō bridge are numerous souvenir shops, one of which is Salon de Royal. A chocolate specialty shop that opened in September 2012, they offer variety of snacks ranging from chocolate covered pecan nuts, green tea walnut chocolates, chocolate covered strawberries and many more.

A personal favorite for me and a good reason to go back to Kyoto.

 

 

3. Nishiki Market

If Osaka has the infamous Dotonbori, Kyo has the equally vibrant Nishiki Market. Dubbed as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, Nishiki Ichiba is a narrow 5-block long shopping street lined by more than 100 restaurants and shops of all things. 

 

Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. The stores range from small narrow stalls to larger two story shops. Most specialize in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.

There are a bunch more I am yet to visit in Kyoto – if at all, the best parts. In the meantime, I will be dreaming of walking along the busy bridges and shrines and markets of this vibrant and old city of Japan.