Category: Japan

Nara Deer – March 13, 2025

  • Nara
  • Weather:  60’s°, overcast 

Part of Nara’s experience is to hand feed crackers to their famous deer. As conditioned as any B.F. Skinner’s laboratory animals, these deer aggressively approach people for food.

Can you believe a Virginian is actually hand feeding a deer?
“Come and get it!”
Nara Deer digesting crackers. These are the fastest deer I’ve ever seen.
Nara Deer

Todaiji Temple –  March 13, 2025

  • Nara
  • Weather:  60’s°, overcast 

It’s hard to imagine the 1692 reconstructed Todaiji Temple is two thirds its original size. Until recently it held the record for the world’s largest wooden building. One of Japan’s largest Buddha bronze statue is housed in the temple. 

Todaiji Temple with ant size people approaching on the steps.
Buddha
Saburo and Namiyo Tamaki met 2015 on the Camino in Spain.
Buddha

Leaving on a Jet Plane –  March 10, 2025

  • Charlottesville > NYC > Chicago 
  • Weather:  60’s°, blue skie

In the 1970’s I flew into Charlottesville Airport for the first time and found my Samsonite luggage abandoned on the floor of the one room airport.  No luggage carousel, no attendant checking baggage claim tickets…no wait. CHO now boasts of a two floor building complete with luggage carousel and the TSA gauntlet.  Albeit passengers walk across the tarmac and mount portable stairs to board planes. I make the walk with pack on back. If it’s not in my backpack, it’s not coming.  I leave the luggage carousel for those traveling with Samsonite. 

CHO and the Blue Ridge Mountains. An easy place for which to return.
If only I’m this lucky to have the row to myself on the flight Chicago to Tokyo.
Uniquely NYC. A puddle jump to Chi-town.

Japanese Camino – Saturday April 20, 2019

  • Saturday, April 20, 2019 Day
  • Temples: Kumano Kudo
  • Nara (75 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies

Kumano Kodo is a networked of Japanese trails taken by pilgrims for centuries connecting sacred sights. Ten years ago it became a “sister road” to the Santiago de Compostelle Camino in Spain. Both share unique values. Kumano Kodo leads to the three shrines of Kumano Kudo whereas Santiago de Compostelle leads to the Cathedral Santiago de Compostelle. Both use a stamped passport to document the pilgrimage.

The bird with three legs is Kumanos symbol complementing the Camino fanned lined scallop shell.

Three friends who met on Camino Norte spend their last day together exploring Japan’s Camino Kumano Kudo. How fitting.

  1. Saburo and Namiyo with a Santiago de Compostelle scallop stone marker
  2. Three Legged Bird Symbol
  3. Three Legged Bird Symbol

New Emperor – Saturday April 20, 2019

  • Saturday, April 20, 2019, Day 37
  • Temples: Tamaki Nara (75 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies

Today begins ceremonies for the first Japanese Emperor in two hundreds years to abdicate. Emperor Akihito is stepping down because advanced age and his son the Crown Prince Naruhito will become the new emperor.

The Golden Week Holiday will be extended form April 27 through May 6, ten days.

  1. Temples Ceremony – Priest
  2. Temples Ceremony – Priest
  3. Temples Ceremony -Drummer

Temple Ceremony Temple Ceremony Temple Ceremony