OUT AND ABOUT OSAKA

A Morning in HIMEJI

Himeji Castle, known as the White Egret Castle 

because of its brilliant white exterior and its resemblance to a bird taking flight.  

The castle has only recently been re-opened after many years of restoration work. 

An afternoon and evening in KOBE,

a port city located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range.

Kobe beef is a prized Japanese delicacy, tender and full of flavour.

The meat is well marbled with fat and produced from pedigreed Tajima breed cattle. 

Misono Teppayaki Restaurant

A chef grills the meat on an iron plate in front of us.

Delicious!

A day in NARA where Buddhism first flourished 

under the strong patronage of successive Emperors.

The train station was pretty impressive.

One of the many shrines we visited.

Another Five Storied Pagoda

Nara Deer Park

The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer.  

They are surprisingly tame, although they can become agressive if you turn your back on them.

Deer crackers are for sale around the park and some deer

have learned to bow to visitors to be fed.

Hard to drag ourselves away from this place.

Traditional Japanese Tea Garden

With Tea Ceremony Flower Garden

And a moss garden, just like ours!

Todaiji Temple

The massive building houses one of Japan's largest bronze statue of Buddha

Smaller, but shinier Buddha.

Walking through the quiet streets of Nara was extremely enjoyable, 

like strolling through the pages of history.