T.J.'s Photos from Japan
Aneta with a deer in Nara Park. In ancient Nara the deer were believed
to be messengers of the gods. As a result the deer of Nara were
treated with reverence and allowed to roam freely. Harming a deer was
even a crime, possibly punishable by death. Today, there are
approximately 1200 relatively tame and fearless deer roaming Nara Park
seeking food from tourists.
TJ feeding deer in Nara Park. Some of the local merchants have taught
the deer how to "bow" and give them food as a reward. Consequently,
many of the deer will approach you and bow if you have food. However,
if you don't feed them after they bow some of the more aggressive deer
will often resort to other means including nipping at your fingers,
tugging at your clothes, or nudging you with there heads.
Stairway to the entrance of Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park.
A young deer standing amongst the many stone lanterns
lining the path to the Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park.
Todaiji temple in Nara is the largest wooden structure in the world.
Despite it's size, it is still only 2/3 of its original size, owing to
a scaled back rebuilding after a fire destroyed it. The temple houses
the worlds largest bronze statue, a massive 45 foot likeness of
Buddha. The statue is appropriately called "Daibutsu" (or "Big
Buddha") by the locals.
Three story high neon signs in Osaka.
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