The Emperor's deer move about unmolested in a park area in Nara. They're so comfortable, they now approach humans looking for treats.
Marker leading into Kōfuku-ji temple
Five-story pagoda at Kōfuku-ji
Storehouse and pagoda at Kōfuku-ji
Another building at Kōfuku-ji
Main Kōfuku-ji building
Kōfuku-ji
Map of Kōfuku-ji site. There really wasn't much to see here, as they were in the middle of reconstruction.
More of the Emperor's deer
Main gate to Tōdai-ji
Mini-shrine outside of Tōdai-ji
The Emperor's deer are so coddled, they'll come up to an empty hand just out of habit.
Yet another gullible deer. Despite some people's opinion of me, I'm not getting ready to snap its neck and eat it, mostly due to the fact that I don't know if the Emperor has ninjas hiding nearby.
Inside grounds of Tōdai-ji
Main gate of Tōdai-ji with the main building in the background
Small island inside Tōdai-ji grounds
Shrine on an island inside Tōdai-ji grounds
Gate of Tōdai-ji
Plaque outside of Tōdai-ji temple
Tōdai-ji temple, the largest all-wooden structure in the world. Everything but the gold leafing on the "horns" and the ceramic roof tiles is wood. Inside is a colossal 52-foot Buddha and other large statues.
Another shot of Tōdai-ji
Yet another shot of Tōdai-ji
Tōdai-ji again
Closing in on Tōdai-ji
Metal lantern in front of Tōdai-ji
The 52-foot Buddha (called the Daibutsu) inside of Tōdai-ji
Tōdai-ji Buddha
Smaller Buddja inside of Tōdai-ji
Better shot of Tōdai-ji Buddha
A second smaller Buddha inside Tōdai-ji
Guardian statue inside Tōdai-ji
Back of Tōdai-ji Buddha
Area model inside Tōdai-ji
Misc. other artifacts in Tōdai-ji
Second guardian statue inside Tōdai-ji
Smaller Buddha inside Tōdai-ji
Statue of Bhaisajyaguru (Master of Healing or Medicine Buddha). Supposedly, if you touch a body part on this statue relative to an ailing part of yours, your problems will disappear.
Another building on Tōdai-ji grounds
The gold pillar represents the top of a former pagoda near Tōdai-ji.
Gateway to a shrine near Tōdai-ji
Main building of nearby shrine
Building on shrine grounds
Shrine buildings
Nearby shrine building
Guardian dog figures at nearby shrine
Altar in nearby shrine
Building at nearby shrine
Monument at a nearby shrine
Plaque for previous monument
Asoka Pillar
Plaque for Asoka Pillar
Shrine gateway
