Kyoto-Nara-Osaka

 Nara is famous for its temple Tōdai-ji (東大寺, Eastern Great Temple), is a Buddhist temple complex, that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples. The beginning of building a temple where the Tōdai-ji complex sits today can be dated to 728 Its Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden), houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu (大仏).

The temple gives the following dimensions for the statue:

• Height: 14.98 m
• Face: 5.33 m
• Eyes: 1.02 m
• Nose: 0.5 m
• Ears: 2.54 m

The statue's shoulders are 28 meters across and there are 960 six curls atop its head. The Birushana Buddhas golden halo is 87 foot in diameter with 16 images each 8 feet tall.
Recently, using x-rays, a human tooth, along with pearls, mirrors swords and jewels were discovered inside of the knee of the Great Buddha; these are believed to be the relics of Emperor Shomu (61-62).
The statue weighs 500 tonnes.

 The project nearly bankrupted Japan's economy, consuming most of the available bronze of the time; the gold was entirely imported. The Buddha was completed in 751. A year later, in 752, the eye-opening ceremony was held with an attendance of 10,000 monks and 4,000 dancers to celebrate the completion of the Buddha.

The supporting beams of the entrance are made of more than 1000 year old trees.

Deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely.
Later on arrived in Osaka, which looks like a crazy city, full with youngsters and shopping arcades.

 Not a bad view from a hotel room...

 

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