Solo Travel in Japan for 18 Days - Day 11: Nara

Reflecting on my 18-day solo trip to Japan right after the pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2022. Nakatanidou Mochi → Kofuku-ji Temple → Feeding Deer in Nara Park → Shizuka Kamameshi → Daibutsu Pudding → Todai-ji Temple → Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Nara is filled with deer everywhere. Initially, it was fascinating, but some deer can be aggressive, which became quite scary. 【Transportation】Kintetsu Osaka Namba Station → Kintetsu Nara Station 【Food】 1. Nakatanidou Mochi One of Nara's delicacies, the green exterior is due to the addition of mugwort, filled with red bean paste, and coated with soybean flour. It has a very chewy texture. Initially, I thought it was just famous without any expectations, but it turned out to be delicious!!! 2. Shizuka Kamameshi Located near Nara Park, this is a very popular restaurant with a long queue. I arrived around 11:30 AM and waited for 1.5 hours. The menu is available in Chinese, English, and Korean. The signature dish is the Nara Seven Kamameshi, which includes crab meat, shrimp, eel, chicken, bamboo shoots, carrots, burdock, mushrooms, and peas. The first bite was great, but as I continued eating, it felt just okay. My friend and I felt that waiting for 1.5 hours was a bit disappointing. 3. Daibutsu Pudding Another Nara delicacy. Initially, I wanted to buy the regular size, but my friend insisted on the giant version, saying it was more cost-effective. So, we shared a giant one. In hindsight, the regular size would have been enough, as it became overwhelming to finish, making it hard to judge its taste. 【Attractions】Kofuku-ji Temple → Feeding Deer in Nara Park → Todai-ji Temple → Kasuga Taisha Shrine 1. Kofuku-ji Temple The first attraction you encounter after exiting Kintetsu Nara Station. It's a Buddhist temple, and its five-story pagoda is the second tallest in Japan. I just passed by and didn't buy a ticket to enter. 2. Nara Park Near the park, you'll see many vendors selling deer crackers. You can only feed the deer with these crackers and not any other food. Some deer can be quite scary, as they might think you have food in your bag. If you don't show them the empty bag, they might headbutt you. My friend got his clothes bitten because he didn't give the deer a cracker. 3. Todai-ji Temple Located next to Nara Park, this place also has many deer. It is the largest wooden structure in the world, housing the world's largest bronze Buddha statue. 4. Kasuga Taisha Shrine Another UNESCO World Heritage site. The path leading to the shrine is lined with trees, giving it a mystical atmosphere. Of course, there are many deer here as well.