It's Kyoto, home of more temples and shrines than you can ever see!

Sam with her umbrella walking through Torii gates at Fushima Inari Shine. There are thousands of these! Some are so close together, I could barely insert my

hand between them. Inari is the name of, roughly speaking, the fox God, so images of foxes abound, and even the wooden prayer cards are fox shaped. 

Isn't it a magnificent place?!!!

Lunch in Nara

From Fushima to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan before Kyoto and well before Nara. It is now home to Daibutsu, the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha  at 49'.  The Kamakura Buddha is 43.8'.

These golden horns on the roof signify this is his home. 

He is magnificent! 

Wandering the precinct toward Kasuga Taisha, we encountered the pesky Nara deer, who are constantly fed crackers purchased from vendors recognized by the deer. They are cute pests who can become pushy and even worse if someone they know has their crackers is not forthcoming enough. We bought no crackers, took only pictures.

Now to Kasuga Taisha shrine, famous for its many (thousands!) lanterns. It is a Shinto shrine and was established when Nara was capital all those centuries ago. Remember, lanterns are the theme here.

Inside as well--

I think you get the picture; can you imagine when they're all alight as they are a few times each year.

Rode trains back and crashed for a while; Jame went out on an errand for Hideko, and when it was dinner time, via text Jame sent directions where to meet. Sam and I subway'ed alone, and Sam was pumped up with excitement! Here she is feeling proud!