Backdate: Japan Osaka - Nara - Tokyo Dec 2018 Day 7

17/12/18 Mon: Had fried rice for breakfast but it wasn't nice. Potato's cutlet with rice was much better. *Thank you Potato for helping to clean up the bathtub which was most probably clogged up by Francine and my long hair.* After that, we checked-out and took the train to Kintetsu Nara station. We placed our luggage in the storage lockers at the station, and left for our half-day tour! Weather was really great that day!

Here's my "big kid" holding on to a Minion's packet of mentaiko fries (300￥)... not bad. 3 of us also bought a total of 7 bottles of honey yuzu, lemon honey and some other flavours of syrup (8690￥) from Sugi Bee Garden thanks to Potato's recommendation and they were cheaper there. *Definitely delicious and worth it~ I wanted to get more if not for it weighing 500g each! We are members now too.*

Tried the caramelised orange but it was nothing wow, and so was the green tea mochi. Then, we saw more and more people crowing at the area as we walked deeper in, and it seemed like there was some festival going on. Alas! It was the last day of the Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri Festival.

We stood by the roadside to watch the Start of the Jidai Gyrotesu (Procession of the Eras). *Ran into one rude Singaporean auntie who stood beside me. Tsk.* The customs, manners and clothing of major period from Heian to the Edo are replicated in this parade, basically over 1000 years of art and culture before our eyes~ 

After that, we began our walk to Nara Deer Park. Potato bought the biscuits (399￥) for us to feed the deer. I tasted a bit out of curiosity and it was bland. When you start feeding one to them, a few others will come over and they would literally follow you around for a while...

Potato told me they would even "bow" for food, and yes I saw it for myself lol. *One even bit Potato's butt... ouch!* They are mostly gentle and cute though.

It was a short walk and we reached the entrance of Todai-ji temple. It costed us 600￥ per person for the entry. The hall houses one of the biggest Buddha statue I've seen so far. Todai-ji temple was founded by Bishop Roben, and is to this day the Head Temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism.

There's also this time capsule which would be opened in 2038, and that marks the 1,500th anniversary of Buddhism into Japan. 

We bought Nara's famous Kakinoha-zushi. They are wrapped in persimmon leaves and slightly salty but I enjoyed it well with Potato and Ian at night when we got back to Ian's place.

Before Francine, Potato and I left Nara, we went into a random eatery for lunch. Mine was a huge bowl of udon with one big piece of sweet beancurd (700￥). 

And the cute little pouch for me here? Potato got it for 300￥ at one of the Gachapon outside Todai-ji temple. We were on our way to Kyoto station there and then, and switched to Shinkansen (5.32pm) thereafter to go back to Tokyo.

We parted with Francine then, as she was staying elsewhere in Tokyo, while Potato and I went to find Ian. Very nice of him to treat us to absolutely-yummy seafood (7120￥) near his place for dinner!

Very much satisfied! We crashed at his place for the next few nights, I got the sofa in the living room and Potato had to "sacrifice" a little by sleeping on the floor with his sleeping bag~ *Thanks for that roof over our head in Tokyo, Ian!*