Japan Summer Trip. Day 9: Nara

We started the 9th day with a Nara day trip. Embarked Kintetsu Limited Express at Kyoto Station, we headed to the Kintetsunara Station to meet Yoshiko Hatcho. She was our guide for that day, called Naramachi Walk.

We met her in front of the Tourist Information Center. Luckily, only 5 people, the Helen's couple from Melbourne including us, joined this tour. Considered it as private tours, Mrs Yoshiko will guide us through the old-town of Nara.

We also booked a private lunch at one of the local resident. We had splendid meal served with generosity. I recommend you to this link if you guys plan to visit Nara.

We had breakfast on the train

While waiting for Mrs Yoshiko, we took our first instant picture in Nara.

I don't think that this print machine suitable for multiple people.

After meeting with Mrs Hatcho, she explained to us on traditional Japanese costume. Then she took us to the Naramichi city walk starting with the old three-storey pagoda in Kofukuji temple and seeing the local belief called 'Jizo', the Bhuddist guardian of children. We were then guided through the geisha and Maiko area where they work as professional entertainers.

We were at Kintetsu Nara Station

Locals with their traditional costumes

Sushi in Nara was wrapped using leaves

Some of the local fruits

Shrine of the local's belief

The southern octagonal hall

The three storey pagoda

We were entering the Kofukuji temple from the back, this is the front entrance

This is the Kanazawa Lake. There were lots of turtles.

You won't be lost in this small city with lots of signage

This could be the ancestor statue that taking care of the river

Mrs Hatcho explaining about the Geisha

We were told that the merchant house was narrow but very deep because the land taxes were assessed based on the width of the frontage. We visited the old traditional medicine shop and many interesting views in the residential area.

Old Machiya townhouses

A small and larger door, which the latter used for customer entering the restaurant

I like the peaceful neighborhood and nice surroundings

The statue that guard the local houses.

This the house owned by one of the famous Geisha in Japan.

The picture of the famous Geisha

An Italian chef sets up a restaurant

We visited to the one of the local tea making shops

The Japanese rice cracker

These charms can be seen at the doorway of each house resembling the family's guardian

For those who can read Japanese

They also leave the fire bucket in front of their house symbolizing their readiness to fire incident

An old medicine shop

There are various types of herbal tea and they do provide free-flow of jasmine tea

The best thing about the Naramichi Walker by Ms Hatcho is that she brings us to visit the inner part of the merchant houses and shops.

Each room in traditional Japanese houses is measured using the number of Tatamis

The Japanese Garden

Please wash your feet before entering the house!

This is how big a Japanese house is...

Let me guess... From left, red bean, soybean and coffee bean!

This is how it looks like when the big door is opened

This lady explaining on how to operate the doors (small and large doors)

All guests are entertained in the tea room located at the front of the house

An old pot to cook rice and meals

The wash basin

Can you guys guess what is this?

Another view of the inner garden

I wonder how the Japanese enjoying the steam bath

Picture taken by Nu'man

Now, the lady showed us on how to operate the windows

The public bath, where everyone goes naked!

We had our pre-booked lunch in one of the local residents

We had an awesome lunch meal!

With the cooks...

Our walking tour ended at Daijoin Garden

After the end of the walking tour, we spent that evening in the Nara park, which is famous of the tame deer in a large park. There are also several attractions, such as Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine.