父が来日（その4） Dad in Japan (Part 4)
奈良 Nara
父が「又京都市に行きたい」と言いましたが、まだ奈良に行ったことがなかったので、今回奈良公園に行きました。父が奈良について何も知りませんでしたので、鹿をはじめ色々を喜ぶと私は思いました。古都奈良の文化財は、奈良市にある寺院などから構成される世界遺産です。宮津市から4時間以内行けると思いましたが、最近高速道路が完成されて、2時間かかりました。
Dad said he'd like to go to Kyoto City again, but since he'd never been to Nara, nor heard of it, I decided to go to Nara Park. I thought he'd enjoy it there with all the deer roaming around. 'The Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara' is a world heritage site made up of temples and the like in the ancient capital city of Nara. I thought we'd be able to get there within 4 hours from Miyazu, but recently they have finished connecting the highways and it only took 2 hours.
Dad said he'd like to go to Kyoto City again, but since he'd never been to Nara, nor heard of it, I decided to go to Nara Park. I thought he'd enjoy it there with all the deer roaming around. 'The Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara' is a world heritage site made up of temples and the like in the ancient capital city of Nara. I thought we'd be able to get there within 4 hours from Miyazu, but recently they have finished connecting the highways and it only took 2 hours.
東大寺と大仏 Todaiji & the Big Buddha
NOTE: Click any photo to enlarge. 注意:どれでもの写真を拡大するのにクリックして
 南大門（国宝） Nandaimon (Great South Gate) (a national treasure) |  東大寺の周辺に修学旅行をしている生徒が非常に多かったです There were tons of students on school trips around the Todaiji area |
 南大門の両側に金剛力士（仁王）像があります。 There is a fearsome looking Kongorikishi (Nio) warrior statue standing guard on each side of Nandaimon Gate. |  左側の像。800年以上前に刻まれました。高さが8メートルです。 The statue on the left-hand-side. They were carved over 800 years ago and are 8 meters tall. |
奈良公園に野生鹿が1,200頭くらいいるそうです。春日大社の神使として、1,300 年の昔から大切に保護されてきました。今は150円で鹿せんべいを買えて、鹿に食べさせられます。もらうために頭を下げる鹿もいると言われています。10月ごろに「鹿の角切」の行事が行われています。だから、いた時にほとんどのオス鹿は角がありませんでした。私は京都産業大学にいたころ、「鹿の角切」の行事を見に行きました。面白かったです。コロシアムのような雰囲気だと思いました。東大寺の南大門に向かっているときに一人の小学生が小鹿に近づきました。その時、クラスメートの皆が大きい声で「だめ！小鹿はだめよ！お母さんが来るから！」を叫びました。 オッ！なるほど！来る前にチャント勉強しましたな～と私は思いました。
There are about 1,200 deer in Nara Park. From around 1,300 years ago, they were considered 'messengers of the gods' for the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and have been protected ever since. You can buy deer biscuits for ￥150 and feed the deer. It is said that some deer even bow their heads to get a biscuit. Around October, they have a deer antler cutting ceremonial event. Therefore, when we were there, most stags had no antlers. I went to see this deer cutting event when I was at Kyoto Sangyo University. It was interesting. The atmosphere was kind of like at a Colosseum. As we were walking towards Todaiji's Nandaimon Gate, I saw an elementay school student approaching a young deer. Suddenly, all of his classmates yelled, "No! Not the little ones! It's mother will come!". This gave me the impression that they had studied about the deer before coming here.
There are about 1,200 deer in Nara Park. From around 1,300 years ago, they were considered 'messengers of the gods' for the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and have been protected ever since. You can buy deer biscuits for ￥150 and feed the deer. It is said that some deer even bow their heads to get a biscuit. Around October, they have a deer antler cutting ceremonial event. Therefore, when we were there, most stags had no antlers. I went to see this deer cutting event when I was at Kyoto Sangyo University. It was interesting. The atmosphere was kind of like at a Colosseum. As we were walking towards Todaiji's Nandaimon Gate, I saw an elementay school student approaching a young deer. Suddenly, all of his classmates yelled, "No! Not the little ones! It's mother will come!". This gave me the impression that they had studied about the deer before coming here.
 この標識があっちこっちにあります These signs can be found here and there |  角がないオス鹿 A stag with no antlers  小さくて可愛い鹿もいます There are tiny cute deer too |
東大寺の大仏殿。 天気が素晴らしかったです。 Todaiji's Great Buddha Hall. The weather was fantastic.
東大寺は奈良時代の中頃に創建されました。大仏殿は創建以来、1180年と1567年に兵火に罹っていて、今の建物は江戸時代に建て直された3度目のものです。幅がやく3分の2に縮小されていますが、それでも1998年まで木造建造物としては世界一の規模を誇っていました。
Todaiji temple was built in the middle of the middle of the Nara period (710 - 794). The Great Buddha Hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is the 3rd generation structure, which was finished in 1709 in the Edo period. The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than than that of the original structure. Even so, it was still ranked as the largest wooden structure in the world until 1998.
Todaiji temple was built in the middle of the middle of the Nara period (710 - 794). The Great Buddha Hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is the 3rd generation structure, which was finished in 1709 in the Edo period. The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than than that of the original structure. Even so, it was still ranked as the largest wooden structure in the world until 1998.
 奈良の大仏。高さが15メートル。 The Great Buddha of Nara. Height: 15 meters. |  左側からの大仏 The great Buddha from the left-hand-side |
大仏殿の広目天 The Komokuten guardian of the Great Buddha
 次の写真の説明を読んでください Please read the explanation in the next photo |  |
 小学生が英語でアンケートをしていました。最初は父が頼まれて、その後、別の生徒に私は3回頼まれました。毎回の質問が異なりました。 Elementary students were doing a questionnaire. Dad got asked first, then I got asked by 3 different students. Each time the question was different. |  この穴の後ろに長い小学生の列がありました。この穴の大きさは大仏の鼻孔の大きさと同じです。この穴を通れば、大仏の鼻孔を通れます。 Behind this hole was a long line of elementary school students. This hole is the same size as the Great Buddha's nostril. So if you can fit through the hole, you can fit through the nostril of the Great Buddha. |
春日大社 Kasuga Grand Shrine
春日大社は768年に創設されて、奈良の一番有名な神社です。灯篭でも有名で、石灯篭が約2,000基と釣灯篭が1,000基あります。合計3,000基です。この灯篭が2月と8月に年に2回点灯されています。私は12年前に8月に行われている元万灯篭を見に行きましたが、春日大社まで行ったかどうか記憶はありません。しかし、東大寺とその周辺に行った記憶があって、綺麗でした。
Kasuga Grand Shrine was established in the year 768, and is Nara's best known shrine. It is also famous for it's lanterns. It has 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns, for a grand total of 3,000 lanterns. These lanterns are lit twice a year, once in February and once in August. 12 years ago, I went to see the Mantoro (10,000 lantern) festival in August, but I don't remember if I went as far as the Kasuga Grand Shrine. However, I do remember Todaiji and it's surrounding area. It was beautiful.
Kasuga Grand Shrine was established in the year 768, and is Nara's best known shrine. It is also famous for it's lanterns. It has 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns, for a grand total of 3,000 lanterns. These lanterns are lit twice a year, once in February and once in August. 12 years ago, I went to see the Mantoro (10,000 lantern) festival in August, but I don't remember if I went as far as the Kasuga Grand Shrine. However, I do remember Todaiji and it's surrounding area. It was beautiful.
 二之鳥居 The No. 2 Torii gate |  春日大社の御本殿までに行く道の両側に苔だらけの石灯篭が沢山あります。素晴らしい雰囲気です。There are a lot of moss covered stone lanterns along both sides of the path to the main shrine complex. It's very picturesque. |
 石灯篭の間にいた小鹿 A little deer in between stone lanterns |  角がある若いオス鹿がいくつかいました A few young bucks had antlers |
春日大社の南門 The Nanmon (south) Gate of Kasuga Grand Shrine
南回廊 South Cloister
釣燈籠。春日他者に、釣燈籠が約1000基あります。 Hanging lanterns. There are about 1,000 hanging lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine.
西回廊 West Cloister
 いい雰囲気ですね。鹿、石灯篭、古そうな木、これは奈良公園の場面です。 Deer, stone lanterns, ancient looking trees, these are some of the typical sights of Nara Park. |  春日大社の御神酒 Consecrated sake of Kasuga Grand Shrine |
 父はこの辺に座って、休憩をしましょうと言いましたが、私はあの池に降りて休憩しましょうと返事しました。 Dad said let's sit down and have a rest around here, but I replied, let's go down a little further to the pond and rest. |  浮見堂と鷺池 Ukimido Gazebo & Sagi Pond |
 浮見堂の中に座って、すぐにこの二人が結婚写真を撮りに来ました。父がすごく喜んでいて、パパラッチのように写真を沢山撮りました。 No sooner had we sat down in Ukimido Gazebo when this couple came to take their wedding photos. Dad was chuffed and took lots of photos like a paparazzi. |  東大寺の前の交差点に人力車があって、人力車で奈良公園の観光ができます。 There are rickshaws at the intersection in front of Todaiji. You can sight-see around Nara Park by rickshaw. |
 木の下に寛いでいるオス鹿 A big stag relaxing below a tree |  興福寺の五重塔。最初に730年に 創建されて、現在の塔は1426年の再建です。Kofuku-ji Temple's five-story pagoda. It was first built in 730 & the present structure was rebuilt in 1426. |
 昼食はがんこのトンカツにしました。父にとって、初めてごまのすり鉢でごまをすりました。美味しかった。二人とも大満足でした。 We went to a Ganko pork cutlet restaurant for lunch. It was the first time dad used an earthenware mortar and stick to grind sesame seeds. It was really delicious. Both dad and I were more than satisfied. |  Once you have ground the sesame seeds, you pour some pork cutlet sauce on them and mix. Then you dip your pork cutlet in. There is tartar sauce for the oysters and prawn. Of course, you drown the cabbage in the delicious dressing. The rice and cabbage is bottomless, so you can ask for more. |
平城京 Heijo Palace
During most of the Nara Period (710-794), Nara served as the capital of Japan and was known as Heijo-kyo. The Heijo Palace extended about one kilometer wide and one kilometer long and served as the site of the emperor's residence and government offices.Click here for more detailed information
 朱雀門 Suzakumon Gate |  大極殿 Daigokuden Hall (Great Audience Hall) |
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奈良公園がいいですね。ここに父を連れていってよかったです。また万灯篭の時に行きたいと思います。 I really like going to Nara Park and am glad I brought dad here. I want to come again for the 10,000 lights festival.
次は2番目のライドを紹介します。どこに行ったでしょう。楽しんでください。
Next time will be about our 2nd ride. Where did we go? Stay tuned.
Next time will be about our 2nd ride. Where did we go? Stay tuned.
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