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Day 3 - Kimiidera, Nara

Went to check out the temple on the hill before we checked out of the hotel.

Sights in the main Kimiidera temple compound.

The name Kimiidera itself the name of the temple, and so the town is probably named after the temple.

And don't you forget.

After arriving in Nara, we went to the Nara Deer Park and the temples around it.

Nara is busy, but not as city-like as Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe.

Remote-controlled deer - Japanese robot.

Nah just kidding. Probably deer on probation.

Tori gate, temple entrance.

Lanterns were pasted with wishes (white paper with purple circle), prepared to be lit for that night's festival.

Todaiji, the largest wooden structure in the world. It's a temple.

Came back to the same place at night because there was a festival going on, called the Daimonji Okuribi.

The place was really crowded, and many gathered at the hillside to watch the lighting of the bonfire at 20:00 on a distant mountain.

We didn't manage to get a good shot, so here's one from the web.

Lots of ladies were in Kimonos for that night. The tradition and culture of Japan is still very strong.

Labels: Day 03