FuFu Travel Guide
Nara & Osaka -21 March 2007-



Nara (奈良) is an ancient and the first permanent capital city in Nara Prefecture, Kansai region of Japan. Nara is home to many important scenic and historical World Heritage sites and its main preserved sights are much more attractively than Kyoto within Nara park like Todaiji and Kofukuji as well as the neighbourhoods like Naramachi. Nevertheless, Nara is always omitted from many time pressed tourists` itineraries as overshadowed by its more famous neighbour Kyoto. As a profesional guide, i definitely pen down Nara on the list. Nara is located west and south of Osaka and Kyoto respectively, 40mins from both Kyoto and Osaka by train.


Kintetsu Nara Station.

Once arrived the station, you can simply walk to almost all the other major sites. The conventional round course from Kintetsu Nara Station to Nara Park, Todaiji, Kofukuji, Kasuga Taisha and back to Kintetsu Nara Station is about 5km long, usually a quite pleasant walk for tourists.


Nara Park.

Most of Nara`s sights, including temples and shrines are concentrated in Nara Park (奈良公園, Nara koen), a wide and pleasant space of greenery. This park is also home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. According to the legend, the god of the Kasuga Taisha came riding a white deer in the old days, so the deer enjoy protected status as envoys of the god and have been designated a national treasure. However, based on their current behaviour, either the deer have lost the job, or the god has taken an extremely passionate interest in business from tourists, these mercenary deers will approach harassing tourists for biscuit. It is though worth to spend ¥150 (US$1.5) on a packet of senpei (biscuit) for the deer.


Nanmon, Todaiji.


Daibutsuden, Todaiji.

Todaiji (東大寺, Great Eastern Temple) is one of Japan`s most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. Constructed in 752 as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples of Japan, Daibutsuden (大仏殿), the buidling that housing Japan`s largest Buddha statue ( 大仏, Daibutsu) is said one of the world`s largest wooden buildings. The temple was put on the World Heritage list of UNESCO in 1998.



At the temple, you can burn osenko (お線香, incense) in large incense burners. Throw a coin into the offering box, take a bundle of incense, light them and let them burn for a few seconds then extinguish the flame by waving your hand rather than by blowing it out. Put the incense into the incense burner and fan some smoke towards yourself as the smoke is believed to have healing power.


Daibutsu at Todaiji.


Ring the gong before you pray.

Also another interest in the Daibutsuden is the rear support pillar, which have holes through the bottom. Popular belief has it that if one is successful in squeezing through the healing pillar, he or she is guaranteed a place in heaven. Thanks god, both my younger and elder sisters have successfully gained the tickets to the heaven.



To the right of the entrance to the Daibutsuden is a statue of the Yakushi Nyorai. Though a bit scary-looking on first glance, it`s actually a Buddha of medicine and healing. Touching a part of the Yakushi Nyorai and then the corresponding part of your own body is said to heal any ailments you have there.


The Buddha of medicine and healing, at Todaiji.


This octagonal lantern is an ancient treasure.

Outside the Daibutsuden at the bottom of the steps, don`t miss the bronze Octagonal Lantern, one of the oldest treasures in Todaiji - it dates from the original 8th century temple. The lantern`s support post is inscribed with a Buddhist text on the merits of lighting lanterns.


The landscape pond in front of Todaiji.


Todaiji World Heritage Monument.


Kofukuji World Heritage Monument.

We then moved to another World Heritage site - Kofukuji (興福寺). Kofukuji is used to be the family temple of Fujiwara, the most powerful family clan during the Nara Period (710-794). Kofukuji`s Treasure House exhibits part of the temple`s great art collection.


The main hall and pagoda of Kofukuji.

Temples store and display sacred Buddhist objects and some of them used to or still function as monasteries. The Pagoda, a structure that has evolved from Indian stupa, usually comes with three or five stories. And this five storied pagoda is one of Japan`s tallest and the symbol of Nara.



Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is a normal shrine but famous for its many lanterns which donated by worshippers. The bronze lanterns within the shrine and hundreds of stone lanterns lining the shrine`s approach are lit on the occasion of the Lantern Festivals in February and August.




In front of a mocchi-making shop at Naramachi.

Naramachi (奈良町) is the former merchant district of Nara where several traditional warehouses and residential buidlings have survived. Besides the main street, small boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants can also be found along the district narrow lanes.


On one of the streets in Naramachi.

After lunch in Nara, we headed for a dialysis hospital in Osaka. Yes, my mother has lost her kidney function since 12 years ago and has been going for dialysis three times a week. Cost of the dislysis for foreigner is rediculous high in Japan. But i asked my professor to write me a recommendation letter so i could bring my mother to the local hospital. We then went to Namba, the southern downtown of Osaka while my mother having her four hours dialysis.


Midosuji line, subway in Osaka.


Nankai building.

Osaka, in a nation of obesessive gourmands, also known as an excellent place to eat, exemplified by the Osakan maxim kuidaore (食い倒れ) which means eat yourself into ruin or eat until you drop in Osaka. The best place for exercising kuidaore is probably Dotonburi at Namba. It is also the famous shopping and entertainment district located around Namba station. It offers something for everyone and includes neighbouring attractions as the fashionable Amerikamura, the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. Belows are some of the more famous establishments can be found in Namba.


The mascot Kuidaore Taro.

The mascot is featuring a mechanical clown beating a drum, is one of the contenders for the title of the largest restaurant in the world. Taro is a popular tourist icon of Namba, even now swarmed by crowds of tourists patiently waiting their turn to snap a memento.


Kani Doraku Crab.

Kani Doraku (かに道楽), easily identifiable by the giant mechanical crab waving its pincers about, is one very expensive restaurant specializes in crab.



Aka Oni Tako (赤鬼たこ), is famous for takoyaki, bits of octopus inside fried dumplings with its own made special sauce. It is ranked as one of the best takoyaki (たこ焼き) in Osaka and the same goes for service too! Remember to look for the big red oni (ghost) holding plate of takoyaki.


Glico man.

Originally installed in 1935, the giant athlete is a symbol of Glico candy, featuring a running man on a blue track is one of the infamous mechanized signs in Dotonburi



Despite its name, Shin Kabukiza Theater is not usually staging kabuki performances. Instead, it mainly features concerts by popular Enka singers and other shows.



The National Bunraku theater is considered the nation`s most prestigious. Besides staging kabuki performances, buraku, rakugo and noh also performed.


Dotonburi.

One of Osaka`s most popular tourist destinations, Dotonburi (道頓堀) runs parallel to the canal. Itis a popular shopping and entertainment district and is also known as a food destination. At night, it is lit by hundreds of neaon light and mechanized signs, including the Glico Man and Kani Doraku crab signs.


A crowd in Dotonburi.


American Village.

Amerikamura, locally known as Amemura is a shopping district that considered Osaka`s counterpart to Harajuku, particularly popular among young people, and is one good place to see the cutting edge of teenage fashion trends and culture in Japan. It is a lively atmosphere that is populated with cafes, clothing stores and thrift shops.


Midosuji street, Sinsaibashi.

Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and its surrounding area is Osaka`s premiere shopping center. Approximately 600m long, this area is unique as it combines chain retail stores and trendy boutiques with expensive department stores and top designer fashion label.


Shinsaibashi at dusk.


Donkihote, the cheap retail shop .


The most significant neaon light and mechanized signs at Dotonburi.




Once we stepped in the shopping arcade in Shinsaibashi, both of my sisters crazily went mad when they saw Hello Kitty House, Disney Store, and other accessories shops.


Hello Kitty`s fans.


The pachinko parlor caught their eyes too.


We take subway back to Namba.

Four hours later, four of us went back to the hospital and picked up my mother for dinner at Namba as i need to bring them to my host father`s Italian restaurant. We had Hokkaido`s famous miso ramen at Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade after roughly showing my mother around Shinsaibashi and Dotonburi.


Dotonburi.


Hokkaido`s Chitokobanya Ramen.

Quake rocks Sichuan

A student helps a trapped schoolmate. (Reuters)

So today is the fifth day after the massive earthquake hit Sichuan, China that expected to have killed up more than 50,000 people. It has been a real bad year for China. First the freezing snow, then Tibetan`s human rights riot, and now the 7.9 magnitude quake. Not only you guys, my eyes weep whenever i read the related articles in the newspapers and saw the pictures and reports on TV.

Never give up to save lives. (Reuters)

It is even incredibly hard on those parents who lost the only child they have as anger had also focused on several school buildings. More than thousands students were trapping beneath the collapsed building. Anyway i deeply wish those who perished in the quake rest in peace.

"I am waiting my son to come back home." (Reuters)

To sincerely show your condolences, please give today. Stop hesitating. Action speaks louder. Take it as a gift that could speed relief to tens of thousands of survivors in need who have lost theirs homes and loved ones.

Will their dreams come true? Yes you can change their lives.(Reuters)

Wait! Dont get me wrong. I still remember the tropical cyclone struck in Myanmar that up to 120,000 may have died. I beg the military regime would open the door and let in more aid quickly from the NGOs. Stop worsening the condition, please.

Kids sit on the branch of an uprooted tree outside a house in Yangon.

天災真可怕 災民的打擊更不堪設想
一個地震 家毀人亡 真讓人触目惊心啊
來大家伸出援助之手把錢放進慈善機構的箱子裏
沒有時間的話就上網按幾按去捐款吧
透過這種方式把我們的爱心献出去 別再等啦
你的捐款可以幫助提供完善的醫療設備住宿
還有足夠的食品飲料衣服生活必需品等
嘿朋友 雖知道施比授更爲有福 行動吧
希望已故的受害者可以安息的上路吧
所有的生存者 你們面前還有漫長的日子
要堅強的爬起來 勇敢快樂的向前慢走哦

FuFu Tour Guide
Kyoto, Japan -20 March 2007-

So, three days later, after my graduation trip, another tour had just begun. I went to the Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan to pick up my mother, godmother, elder and younger sisters. The main purpose they came was to attend my graduation ceremony which fell on 23rd March. Since i had arranged everything for them earlier, and been to those tourist spots several times, the 6 days 5 nights tour (Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima as well as my graduation ceremony) was smoothly carried out although i was half dead. Anyway allow me to bring your eyes to Japan now.


Taking Hankyu Line from Osaka to Kyoto.

Our first stop was Kyoto, (京都) the former imperial capital of Japan (Emperor`s residence from 794 until 1868). Kyoto has a reputation worldwide as Japan`s most beautiful city with countless temples, shrines and other historically structures which rings the city centre. There indeed has a lot to see and do, and putting together the perfect Kyoto itinerary can be a daunting task, but that is where the world traveller comes in. If you have just one day on your visit in Kyoto, dont try to see everything. Make a must-see list and save the rest for your next visit like what i had done for the four ladies.


"Hey little girl, you never see a Japanese radish before huuh?"

After half an hour journey we had arrived Kawaramachi, the centre of Kyoto. My mother requested to have a look at what kind of vegetable sold in the supermarket. This is because we are selling vegetable at the wet market. As a normal housewife as well, she was checking and comparing the price with my godmother besides seriously looking at the stuff they have never seen before. They had several silly questions that drove me mad at that time, for instance, about the size of Japanese radish and asparagus, length of burdock root, etc.



Nijyo Caste, 二条城 Certainly one of the highlights of Kyoto. The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru complex is particularly impressive, and known for its `nightingale floors`, wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on. From the donjon of the inner castle, you can get good views over the castle layout, and the rest of the city.


Ninomaru, Nijyo Castle.


At the veranda of a reception room inside the castle.


Japanese typical beautiful landscape garden.


A pretty girl posing outside the castle .


The Donjon of the castle.

It was Japanese plum`s blossoms season throughout the country in March. We hence, stopped over the park right next to Nijyo Castle. The plum trees do comes in many varieties and gratefully four of them enjoyed viewing the flower and happily taking pictures around. It was still early for the cherry trees to open its blossoms. Nonetheless several types of the cherry blossoms just couldnt wait to welcome and see the four pretty ladies from Malaysia. Flowers are always naturally match with female. It is strange if a guy take pictures with flowers, but it goes alright to girls no matter what kind of flowers.


My younger sister is cuter than the plum flowers, isnt she?


This weeping cherry tree is blooming a week earlier.

Kinkakuji, 金閣寺 (Golden Pavilion) is a zen temple formally known as Rokuonji, 鹿苑寺 is the most visited tourist attraction in Kyoto. The pavilion was built in the late 12th century and converted into a temple and now it functions as shariden, housing the sacred relics of the Buddha and its building is covered in gold leaf. The beautiful landscaping and the reflection of the temple on the face of the water make for a striking sight, but keeping the mobs of visitors out of your photos will be a stern test for your framing abilities and a dilemma for your photographic honesty. Get there early if you can to beat the school groups.


Kinkakuji is so gorgeous, reflected on the pond, absolutely deserved to be the most popular tourist spot.


The sun is out, smiling and welcoming us.

We then followed a path through the moss garden surrounding the pavilion, before emerging into a square crowded with gift shops. There, we tried some of Kyoto specialty - warabi mochi and candies. But what successfully caught their eyes was ice cream. Kyoto is famous of its green tea as well.


We enjoyed the smooth maccha ice cream very much.



Gion, 祇園 is Kyoto`s most famous geisha district. To truly experience the traditional Gion, I brought them to Miyako-odori, strolled along the street lined by beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants. There, in the evening you would be able to spot a geisha apprentice.


Miyako-odori, Gion.


This Geisha apprentice is shy and walking way too fast with her clog.

Yasaka Jinjya, 八坂神社 at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, at the edge of Gion, is the shrine responsible for Kyoto`s main festival, the Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July. The shrine is small in comparison with many in Kyoto, but it boasts an impressive display of lanterns.


Yasaka Shrine.

Well, if you are going to visit a shrine, you are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. At the purification trough-fountain near the shrine`s entrance, take a provided ladle, fill it with the fresh water and rinse both hands. Then transfer some water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit the water beside the fountain. It is however not supposed to transfer the water directly from the ladle into your mouth nor to swallow the water.


The purification trough-fountain is easily found near the entrance of every shrine in Japan.

Bear his in mind when you visit the shrines throughout Japan or Japanese shrines outside Japan. This is because i noticed that quite a few visitors skip mouth rinsing part or the purification ritual altogether.


You anyhow need to swing the rope strongly to tinkle the bell.

When you wanna make a wish or pray, throw a coin into a offering box in the offering hall, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray. If there is some type of gong or bell, ring it before praying in order to get the God`s attention.


Ema, with one side beautifully printed and the other side is blank for the wishes.



Ema is a wooden plate that visitor write his or her wishes on and the leave them at the shrine in the hope that the wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, passing entrance exams, success in business, love or wealth.


Fold omikuji into long rectangle before you tie them.

Omikuji are fortune telling paper slips found at many shrines and temples. Randomly drawn, they contain predictions ranging from Daikichi, 大吉 (great good luck) to Daikyo, 大凶 (great bad luck). By tying the piece of paper around the specific sacred place or tree`s branch, good fourtune will come true or bad luck can be averted. Omikuji is not free, ¥100 (US$1) each.


Akuoji Shrine.

Torii, 鳥居 is the gate or mark to the approach and entrance to a shrine. They come in various colours and made of various material. Most torii however are made of wood and painted orange and black.


さつま芋, fried sweet potatoes.

One must not miss the hawker food sold in front or along the way to the shrine. And also buy one of two Japanese little cute souvenirs back for yourself or friends.


からあげ, fried chicken.


The lanterns donated by the worshippers.


Ikebana, various modern styles of Japanese arranged flowers exhibit at the park next to the shrine.

Ikebana is developed from the buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of the dead in both temples or shrines. It is considered one of the traditional arts of Japan. However as time passed, styles changed and modern styles of ikebana have evolved to be practiced at all levels of Japanese society.


Another kind of sakura in Yasaka Shrine has bloomed.

Just for your extra information, you are not supposed to visit a shrine if you are sick, have an open wound or even having your period because these are considered caused of impurity. In this 21 century, anyhow you could just ignore this tradition as none of the visitors as well as Japanese follow, care or mind. Both the temples or shrines are open daily, 9am-5pm, with last admission at 4pm or some 4.30pm. Admission fees vary from ¥400 (US$4) to ¥600 (US$6).

Okay, enough for this time. To learn more about Japanese culture, stay tuned for the next lesson.


Japanese typical shotengai (literally shopping street) scenery with the shops running along the street.

It was getting dark when we back to the downtown. And we rushed back to my host family house for dinner. It was a sashimi-sushi-tempura feast. Unfortunately, the four ladies didnt quite enjoy the raw and cold food. Thanks god, they each finished a bowl of ochatsuke, a practice that adding tea to rice, topped with some seaweed and pickled vegetable. I forgot to bring my camera with me to the restaurant. Ochatsuke is a simple dish to prepare, guess i shall share it later here.