Friday, December 10, 2010

Japan - Day 4: Hasedera-ji (長谷寺) & Tanzan Shrine (谈山神社), Nara

It was 23 November, Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日 Kinrō kansha no hi). It is a national holiday in Japan. Mrs Lepage need not work on that day so she offered to take us to a temple and a shrine in the Nara prefecture. We were so grateful to have her as our guide for we often encountered with communication problem whenever we wanted to ask for directions.

Kintetsu Train in the Kansai region
This is a cafe, serving green tea cuisine.

The Nio gate

Hasedera-ji (長谷寺) is located in Sakurai, Nara. It is the main temple of Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism.

The 200-metre long wooden staircase (登廊 noboriro), made of 399 small stone steps, leading to the main hall from the Nio gate.

Thirteen-storied pagoda
Ming Na the hitch-hiker

Japanese Zen Sand Garden
Zen Gardens are created as an aid to meditation, where nature is suggested by using only stones, raked gravel and minimum amount of plants.

Lanterns
Tsukemono (pickled food -漬物) shops

Grilled green tea mochi
Skewered Konnyaku (蒟蒻/菎蒻; こんにゃく)

Flavoured Rice Buns

Kakinoha (Persimmon leaf) Sushi (柿の葉寿司)

Kakinoha Sushi topped with marinated saba slice
Kakinoha Sushi topped with smoked salmon slice

2 comments:

  1. Hmm, the food looks very traditional to me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah, the temple is located at the outskirts of Japan.

    ReplyDelete

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