This time, I specifically chose to visit during peak cherry blossom season and brought my family to Nara. After leaving the station, we headed toward Todaiji Temple, and the first thing that came into view was the historic Kohfukuji Temple. Kohfukuji is an important cultural heritage site in Nara, and its five-story pagoda is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The traditional temple buildings exuded a calm and solemn atmosphere, and paired with the soft pink cherry blossoms of spring, they made us stop and admire the scenery. The National Treasure Museum within the temple grounds also caught my eye with its striking red beams and columns and modern exterior, creating an interesting contrast with the surrounding ancient temple buildings. Simply strolling around was full of surprises.
We then continued toward Todaiji Temple, where the magnificent Great Buddha Hall and solemn Great Buddha of Nara were breathtaking. I still remember excitedly waiting in line during my first visit to crawl through the hole in the wooden pillar behind the Great Buddha, praying for good health and protection from misfortune. Seeing that hole again this time, I felt a little nervous instead and could only laugh as I remembered how brave I had been back then. After that, we walked into Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where the ancient trees and stone lanterns lining the approach created a mysterious atmosphere. We also came across sika deer roaming freely, as if we had entered a forest protected by the gods.
After enjoying the cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and herds of deer along the way, don't forget to finish with a satisfying meal at Shizuka Kamameshi. The piping-hot kamameshi was wonderfully fragrant, with the rice soaking up the flavors of the seafood and broth. The lightly scorched rice crust at the bottom was especially unforgettable!
