Nara Daibutsu

We visited the giant Buddha in Nara yesterday. All I can say is "Awesome!" both the Buddha and the building that surrounds it. They say that the current building is about 30% smaller than the original buildings that were destroyed by fire. I made sure to claim the virtual cache that was there plus the real cache on the top of nearby Wakakusayama. There were thousands of tame deer all over the place (temples, shrines, gift shops and the streets).

Back on Japan time

We're finally back on Japan time and able to stay awake I think. We've visited the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda and yesterday we did window shopping at the geek shops in Kobe.

Afterwards I went hiking by myself through the Kitano neighborhood and on up into the mountains to see the Nunobiki falls (see photo) and on up higher to the Nunobiki Herb Garden/Park. Then I took the Ropeway back down into Kobe.