We all know that Nara has a lot of old and historical buildings. Daibutsu-den Hall, the most famous building in Nara where the Great Buddha houses, was first bulit in 758. (The current bulding was the one rebuilt in 1709 after several fires) And Horyu-ji Temple has the oldest extant wooden buildings in the world. After watching all these wonderful World Heritage Sites and traditional buildings, how about exploring some newer and more unique ones? :) Beautiful Buildings from Meiji Era After the end of the national isolation for over 200 years and beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912), the new government aggressively pursued modernization, aiming to become internationally recognized as a civilized nation. A variety of Western cultures such as fashion, food, and technologies as well as architecture had flowed into Japan (mainly in urban areas), and Western-style architecture made of stone and brick had come to be seen. Such buildings are typically called “Kindai Kenchiku” (translated as modern architecture, but Western architecture may be more suitable English word) in current Japan. Nara National Museum Buddhist Sculpture Hall (1894) The Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall (Original Museum Building) is a brick building completed in 1894, designed by Katayama Tōkuma, an architectural designer of the Imperial Household Agency. The building adopts the architectural style of the peak of French Renaissance. Especially noted for the decorative ornamentation around its West Entrance, this building is an outstanding example of mid-Meiji period European-style architecture. In 1969, the building was designated as an Important Cultural Property under the official name “Former Imperial Nara Museum Original Museum Building.” Here you can see approximately 100 works of Japanese sculpture from 7th to 14th centuries. Open Hours: 9:30 - 17:00 (Last admission at 16:30) Closed on: Mondays Access: Take a city loop bus from JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station, and get off at "Himuro-jinja, Kokuritsu-hakubutsukan" bus stop. / A 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara station. (Google Map) Nara Buddhist Art Library (1902) The Buddhist Art Library was built in 1902 as an exhibition hall for local Nara Prefecture products. It was designed by a scholar of architectural history trained as an architect named Tadashi Sekino (1867–1935). In its overall design, the building makes reference to the Phoenix Hall (Hō’ō-dō) at the Byōdō-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The building is made of wood and has a double-roof of pantiles: curved overlapping roof tiles. Its façade features a porch with an undulating gable (kara hafu). The building was designed to harmonize with its Nara Park surroundings. Particularly in its elegant integration of Western and Japanese stylistic elements, it exemplifies architecture of the Meiji era (1868–1912). The building was later renamed the Nara Prefecture Commerce and Industry Exhibition Hall. In 1951, the hall’s management was transferred to the Japanese government, and until 1980 it was used as the office of the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. It is now used as the Buddhist Art Library to facilitate the creation, collection, organization, and conservation of research and resources contributing to knowledge of Buddhist art. Since 1989, the books, journals, and photographs held at the Buddhist Art library have been accessible to the general public. Open Hours: 9:30 - 16:30 (Last admission at 16:00) Open on: Wednesdays and Fridays *Reservation required Closed on: Holidays and from December 26th to January 4th Access: Take a city loop bus from JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station, get off at "Himuro-jinja, Kokuritsu-hakubutsukan" bus stop, and walk for 5 minutes. / An 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara station. (Google Map) Nara Hotel (1909) Nara Hotel (奈良ホテル) is a five star hotel in Nara, Japan. The hotel is located on the hillside overlooking Nara Park. Opened on October 17, 1909, it is one of the most historic hotels in Japan. It was designed by Tatsuno Kingo who was also the designer of the Bank of Japan building and the Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station and is known as the teacher of Kenkichi Yabashi, the designer of National Diet Building, and Kataoka Yasushi who was also the designer of Osaka City Hall. It is partially owned by the West Japan Railway Company. In 2009 the first centennial anniversary of the hotel was celebrated. Open Hours: N/A *Ask at a front desk for a day visit Access: Take a city loop bus from JR Nara station or Kintetsu Nara station, and get off at "Nara Hotel" bus stop. (Google Map) The Former Nara Prison (1908) The Former Nara Prison, designed by Keijiro Yamashita, a public worker for the Ministry of Law who designed many prisons and court houses, was built in July, 1908 (the 41st year of Meiji), as one of those five prisons called “the Meiji Five Great Prisons” interspersed across the country (their locations were Chiba, Kanazawa, Nara, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima). Most of construction work was carried out by prisoners, and the bricks used were supplied from kilns they built themselves, as history tells. The Romanesque red brick edifice, with beautiful as well as profound taste still now lingering, has then-advanced technology and design elaborated here and there, and the central region of the grounds with an area of about 106,000 square meters is allotted for detention wards extending radially, which is called “Havilland system”. The Former Nara Prison, after closing its over 100 years’ life as a detention house in March, 2017 (the 29th year of Heisei), was designated as an important cultural asset in February, the same year, with its whole structure intact. It will be renovated into a "prison hotel" in the near future. Access: Take a Nara Kotsu bus bound for Aoyama-jutaku (#81, #118, #153) from JR Nara station or Kintetsu-Nara station and get off at "Hannya-ji" bus stop. (Google Map)

Wind chimes, one of the features of summer in Japan, are hung throughout the temple grounds allowing visitors to the temple to enjoy a pleasantly cool atmosphere. The refreshing tones of over 2,500 wind chimes sounding simultaneously in a summer breeze are beyond words. An exhibition and sale of the wind chimes around the country is also held. The name of this temple originates from a local girl from the Edo period called Ofusa. Ofusa began worship of the Goddess Kannon (goddess of mercy and compassion) Main hall The corridored main hall was built at the beginning of the Meiji period, and provides visitors with a distinct sense of history. Beginning with the Jūichimen Kannon (eleven-faced goddess of mercy and compassion), the temple's principle object of worship, a variety of statues are worshipped including a Fudōmyouou (Cetaka) statue, a Senju Kannon (thousand-armed goddess of mercy and compassion) statue, an Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata) statue, and an En-no-Gyōja statue. Location 6-22 Ousa-cho, Kashihara-shi, Nara Prefecture 634-0075 (Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Yamatoyagi Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line) *Parking free of charge (parking for buses also available) #Windchimefestivalikashiharacity

Furin or wind chimes are a symbol of summer in Japan. The chimes are hung outside or near the windows and people enjoy the soothing sounds. Furin have the shape of bells with a part called the "tongue" in the center of the chim.A strip of papar called tanzaku hangs from the tongue.When the wind blow, the tanzaku causes the tongue to strike the side of the chime and thus makes the furin toll. Furin is made of glass, metal(*Nanbu Furin) On hot summer days, people hang furin from the eaves and listen to the cool jingle from the furin,helping them momentarily forget the stifling heat of summer. Furin is gadget that the people in Edo(Tokyo). Wind chimes in our lobby

The Asuka area was the political and cultural center of Japan when the country was first established as a nation.The Asuka Law has been enacted to preserve the historical climate and natural environment of the area, and there are many places to visit.Asuka Village is accessible by train from Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. From Kashiharajingu-mae Station, the terminal station, there are many sightseeing buses for Asuka Village ISHIBUTAI TUMULUS This tumulus was created in the early 7th century and has a horizontal stone chamber of the largest size in Japan. The total weight of the 30 large and small stones is approx. 2,300 tons. You can even enter the tumulus and watch it from inside! Address: 133 Shimasho Hours: 8:30–17:00 TEL: 0744-54-4577 Fee: 250 yen TAKAMATSUZUKA TUMULUS The vividly colored mural in the stone chamber was drawn more than 1,300 years ago. In the Takamatsuzuka Mural Museum, you can see replicas of the stone chamber and the mural. Address: 439Hirata Hours: 9:00-17:00 TEL: 0744-54-3340 Fee: 250 yen OKADERA - TEMPLE Its formal name is Ryugai-ji. There is a pond called Ryugai-ike which is said to have a dragon sealed within in the grounds. The principle object of worship is the Cintamani-cakra bodhisattva sedentary statue (Important Cultural Property), which is the largest earthen statue in Japan. In the spring, 3000 rhododendrons color the grounds. Entrance fee: 300 yen Open hours: March 1-November 30: 8：00~17：00;　December 1 – End of February: 8：00~16：30 ASUUKA DERA TEMPLE Built from the end of the 6th century to the start of the 7th century with the prayer of Soga no Umako, it is Japan’s oldest full-fledged Buddhist Temple. The copper Shakanyorai sedentary statue (Important Cultural Property) is the principle object of worship and is known by the popular name “Asuka Daibutsu”. Entrance fee: 350 yen Closed: April 7-April 9 Open hours: April 1 – September 30: 9：00~17：30; October 1-March 31: 9：00~17：00

The results of the deer population survey conducted on July 16, 2021 in Nara Park are as follows. Results of the deer population survey in fiscal year 2021 (as of July 16, 2021) Number of deer Nara Park Total 1,105 (Male deer 217 Female deer 806 Fawns 82) The mother and fawns we have been protecting at the Deer Park are scheduled to make their debut in Nara Park around the end of July. The popular Nara Park (Nara City, Nara Prefecture) is famous for its many deer. However, not many people know how many deer there are in total and how they are counted.Every year, on July 15 and 16, the "Aigo-kai,"(Fundation of for the Protection of Deer in Nara) a group of volunteers, walk around Nara Park and count the number of visitors. Since the "Aigo-kai" is not enough, a total of about 40 people, including volunteers, students from Nara University, priests from Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and souvenir shops in Nara Park, work together to count them.Taking advantage of the deer's habit of coming down from Mt. Wakakusa, located on the east side of Nara Park, in search of food every morning, the survey started as early as 5:00 am. The team is divided into groups of four, each led by a deer counting veteran, and arrives at the starting point of each route. We then set off simultaneously from the west side of Nara Park to the east side of the park to greet the deer coming down from the mountains. As we walked along, we counted the deer steadily with our own eyes. They counted the deer not only by simple numbers but also by classifying them into "male deer," "female deer," and "baby deer. One possible reason for the large number of females in the Nara Park is the difference in life span. Females live about 20 years, while males live about 15 years, which is a bit shorter. It is the same as humans. Another reason for the large number of males is that during the autumn breeding season, the males, who have their own territories, are so desperate to enclose the females that they often run out into the road and die or are protected by the deer park in the vicinity of Nara Park All deer in Nara Park are wild Japanese deer. We do not help them in any way with their breeding activities. Although the deer eat rice crackers (mainly made of rice bran and flour) given to them by tourists as a snack, their staple food is grass and nuts. The beautiful lawns in Nara Park are not maintained by the deer, but rather by the deer eating the grass and using the feces as fertilizer. Nature is wonderful, isn't it?

Tomb of Emperor Shomu (Mt. Sahoyama South ) and Tomb of Empress Komyo(Mt. Sahoyama East ) are located not far from the Tegaimon Gate of Todaiji Temple and just west of the ruins of Tamon Castle, built by Hisahide Matsunaga.The tomb of Emperor Shomu, which can be seen to the north from the entrance facing the Saho River, is that of a representative of the Nara period and famous for issuing the decree for the construction of the Great Buddha, and the tomb of Empress Komyo, who is said to have been the founder of social welfare by helping the sick, is located at the end of the road that splits off to the northeast before the mausoleum of Emperor Shomu. The area around the tomb is called "Tamoncho," and it is an area with many old houses and mansions. In particular, the area around the tomb of Empress Komyo is lined with old storehouses and mud walls next to the quiet tomb. In addition, even though tomb of Emperor Shomuis one of the most popular tourist spots in Kitamachi, only a few tourists actually visit the area, and even during the daytime the tomb is often unoccupied, so you can enjoy a very quiet atmosphere. Access from Kintetsu and JR stations Nara Kotsu Bus From JR Nara Station West Exit or Kintetsu Nara Station, take a bus bound for Kamo Station, Takanohara Station, or Saidaiji Station, get off at Horen-Nakamachi bus stop, and walk east for 5 minutes. 15-minute walk north from Kintetsu Nara Station 25-minute walk northeast from JR Nara Station Tomb of Emperor Shomu Tomb of Empress Komyo

The Nara Prefectural Museum of Man'yo Culture will hold an exhibition featuring Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), an ukiyoe artist active in the late Edo period, who is also described as a "painter of the fantastic. Kuniyoshi was a pupil of Utagawa Toyokuni I, who laid the foundation of the Utagawa school. After a period of hibernation, Kuniyoshi gained popularity with his "Suikoden" series. Although Kuniyoshi specialized in gorgeous and powerful samurai paintings, it was in the realm of caricatures and parodies that he came into his own. His Yosie, in which small nude figures are put together to form human faces, and his anthropomorphic animal paintings are full of humor, and have not lost their luster. This exhibition also features a wide variety of ukiyo-e works, such as lyrical paintings of beautiful women, works that incorporate Western expressions, and one-of-a-kind handwritten paintings, to explore Kuniyoshi's appeal. Nara Prefectural Museum of Manyo Culture, 10 Asuka, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara 634-0103, Japan　 Period] July 22, 2021 (Thursday, national holiday) - September 26, 2021 (Sunday) Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:30 (admission until 17:00) General admission 1,200 yen, High school and university students 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen Mondays (If Monday is a national holiday, the museum will be closed the following weekday) Nara Prefectural Museum of Man'yo Culture Ei Nakamichi (Executive Director of the International Ukiyo-e Society) Planning Cooperation] Art One Inc. Access】A short walk from the west exit of the Nara Manyo Culture Museum on the Kintetsu Kashihara-Jingu-mae Station (east exit) or Asuka Station (west exit) by Kame Bus.

An ancient temple enshrining a Buddha who meditated for an endless amount of time Located on the north side of Todaiji Temple, the Go-kan-in Temple will hold a special exhibition of the seated statue of Amitabha Buddha meditating on five kalpa (kalpa), which is said to have been brought from the Sung Dynasty by Shonin Chogen. The word "kalpa" means a very long time. The spiral hair, which looks like an Afro hairdo, represents the figure of a person who has been thinking for a dizzyingly long time. The wooden seated statue of Amitabha (National Important Cultural Property), the main deity of Go-kaku-in, wi The "kalpa" in "five kalpa" refers to the time it takes for a celestial maiden, who descends on a large rock once every three years, to sweep the rock away with her sleeve until it is worn away. It is said that her hair grew long because she spent so much time thinking that she had to repeat this process five times.

During the construction of the seawall, a large number of Jizo statues were found, and they were collected and arranged here. The Jizo are wearing red slobber drapes. On the bridge, there is a money box where you can pay your respects. There is also a staircase leading down to the bottom of the bridge where you can pay your respects.

A place where you can relax and have fun during summer. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, have a BBQ, and do different water sports. There are parking spaces and toilets as well. Address: Shibasaki River Park, 261-1 Takicho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture 分享大家夏季游玩的好地方！欣赏青山绿水的自然美景，而且在这里还可以游泳，BBQ，钓鱼等。停车位和洗手间具备。 地址：奈良县五条市滝町261-1　「芝崎河川公園」