Page 5 of 5
Nara, Japan
The unforgettable fire
Nara was the first capital of a unified Japan (sometime in the 700s) before the capital was moved to Kyoto (c. 800) and finally Tokyo (c. 1890). Both Nara and Kyoto were spared from the World War II bombing that obliterated Tokyo, allowing this temple to survive. This is actually a reconstruction from the 1700s and remains in the record books as the world's largest wooden building. Inside the single room temple is a really, really big Buddha.
While not really in Nara, the Horuygi Temple (in Horuygi oddly enough) is a short ten minute rail trip from Nara. Parts of the complex date back to 700, making them what is believed to be the oldest wooden buildings in existence.
Just a picture of a stone post at Horugyi, where interior photos remain prohibited, but that’s ok since the outside was just so damn impressive.
High atop the city of Himeji, only a half hour west of Osaka via the Shinkasnsen (bullet train), stands a samurai castle, the best preserved samurai castle in existence.
The castle is a national treasure with a religious shrine on the 6th floor, two reasons one is forced to observe the local footwear protocol. Upon entering the castle, you de-shoe (carrying your shoes around in a shoe plastic bag), close up your umbrella (and put it in an umbrella plastic bag), slip on a pair of super uncomfortable slippers designed for someone whose feet are much, much, much smaller than yours, then ascend ladders and non code compliant stairs just to see views like this.
This is the A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, so named because it survived, albeit scathed, its close proximity to ground zero that August 53 years ago. Nearby is a museum, as graphic and depressing as it probably should be with the requisite pictures of charred flesh, the remains of many destroyed everyday objects, and a few darkly impressive things like chards of glass that were propelled into and through steel.
Hiroshima itself was rebuilt quickly and without much thought- it was easily the least distinctive of any of the cities I have visited. It rained on me in Hiroshima. I think it would have felt wrong if it didn't.
Kyoto and Osaka are physically quite close to each other, and I made a quick stop there on my way back home to see what it was like. Arriving at Shin-Osaka (the Shinkansen Station), I was especially proud of myself that I was able to figure out the subway system and ticket machines by myself without being able to read Japanese. That subway took me downtown where I spent a little time walking around in the rain in the big city, including a stop here to look up at the Umeda Sky Building, where you’ll find no protection from the rain if you find yourself standing underneath that great big hole in the sky.
Built several miles into Osaka Bay, Kansai is a damn nice airport. This is the ticketing hall at sunset, probably not the best picture I took there but still the one that gives you the best feel for the building.
Next stop: Hawaii
Since we’re already halfway around the world anyway, why not continue on with me to a stopover in Hawaii on our way home? We’ll see three islands including the big one and Kauai, we’ll ride an ultralight, hike the Na Pali cliffs and more
