Day 10 Osaka Castle and Nara Visit

Osaka Castle :The castle is one of Japan's most famous, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama era.

 View from Osaka Castle

At the Big Buddha statue in Nara.Todaiji (東大寺, Tōdaiji, "Great Eastern Temple") is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples  and a landmark of Nara. The temple was constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincialBuddhist temples of Japan and grew so powerful that the capital was moved from Nara. to Nagaoka in 784 in order to lower the temple's influence on government affairs.

Can you see the big buddha ?

This hole in the column is the same size as the statue's nostril! If you can fit through this hole, you will have good luck (and maybe sore shoulders!)

The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara's nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city and have been designated a natural treasure.

Nara Mascot at train station

Came back from Nara and we stopped in  Joyo High School for a short visit.

The high school students had "companies" that made these pencil pouches and bags, including printing the material themselves! What a great job!