Earlier this month, we welcomed visitors from Thailand who were here to collect information about Nara’s sakura (more familiarly known as “cherry blossoms” in English) and the famous sites that host them all around the prefecture, as they would soon be producing a special feature about Nara in their magazine.
We started our first day at Mt.Shigi, making our way to Chogosonshiji Temple, located on top of the mountain in northwestern Nara. The temple not only offers the world’s largest paper tiger, but also stunning vistas looking east over Nara. While we were a little early in the season for sakura viewing (a colder winter meant it started later this year), we did find beautiful weather awaiting us at the top. The perfect spring day made for a great start to our work, and our visitors were surely impressed by the beauty of the prefecture.
The second day, we set out for the south of Nara and Mt.Yoshino, one of the most famous sites for cherry blossoms in Japan. We still weren’t having much luck finding sakura trees in bloom, but it was starting to get warmer and warmer, and there were a few blossoms getting an early start (as seen in the picture here, taken at Japanese inn Chikurinin Gumpoen’s garden). We spent the day wandering through the shop-lined streets at the top of the mountain, stopping in at shrines, temples and lookout points, and enjoying delicious Nara specialties sold by vendors on the mountain, including lots of sweets made from arrowhead root, which is very famous in the Yoshino area. We also visited Kinpusenji Temple, home to a giant main hall, before making our way back down the mountain.
The activities on our third day were focused on Hasedera Temple and Asuka Village. I’ve talked about Hasedera before on this blog; a large temple located in the mountains near Sakurai City, famed for its flowers and seasonal beauty. The sakura were finally in bloom, so it really felt like spring had come to Japan as we climbed the many steps that line the hillside. After finishing our tour of Hasedera, we traveled the short distance to Asuka Village, an area that was the center of administration in Japan even before the Heijo-kyo Capital was established in Nara 1300 years ago.
Enjoying some delicious “ancient rice” ice cream available at the local shops, we walked around the Ishibutai Burial Mound, took in the surrounding scenery from Amakashi-no-Oka Hill, and also visited Asukadera Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in all of Japan. If we only had more time, it would have been a perfect day to rent a bicycle from one of the many shops, exploring all the ancient sites that Asuka Village has to offer!
My last day as part of the excursion, our Thai visitors and I started by visiting Jikoin Temple in Yamato Koriyama, a rare type of temple designed to allow visitors to relax amongst nature while enjoying traditional Japanese tea ceremony and gardens. The peaceful surroundings offer a great chance to relax, and a tour around the facilities, especially the garden, is a chance no one should miss out on. We continued with a stroll through Yamato Koriyama, taking in the beautiful cherry blossoms near Yamato Koriyama Castle, before making our way to Yakushiji Temple in Nara City, a place whose divine protectors ward off the illnesses of worshippers.
No trip to Nara would be complete without a stop at the Heijo-kyo Palace Site, where the 1300th Anniversary events were held last year, so we made our way to the area, visiting the nearby museum to see the remains of the first international capital to be established in Japan as well as the rebuilt Imperial Hall. We also made our last stop of the day at Sahogawa River which runs along the north side of Nara City. In April when the sakura are blooming, this area stands as one of the most beautiful in all the city, with hundreds of cherry blossom trees lining the banks as visitors enjoy food and drinks along the river. We were lucky as the trees were in full bloom, providing a great finish to my time on the tour, and a reminder of how lucky I am to work in Nara.
This blog is a little different from usual. Recently, readers of our pages may be more interested in information regarding the March 11 earthquake and the following nuclear power plant accidents than in Nara’s tourist sites. How has Nara been influenced by the earthquake and the nuclear accidents? Is it safe to visit Nara in this seemingly uncertain time? We have interviewed a staff member at the International Affairs and Tourism Division of Nara Prefectural Government. I asked questions which are often posed by the media. Let’s read her answers.
Question: How far is Nara Prefecture from Fukushima Prefecture?
Ms. S: The accidents at the nuclear power plant occurred in Fukushima Prefecture, which is located in Northeastern Japan (Tohoku), while Nara Prefecture is in Western Japan (Kansai) and is more than 550km away from Fukushima.
Q: I understand that there is quite a distance between the two prefectures. Can I take this distance as a proof of safety under the current situation?
S: We trust that the nuclear accidents will have no impact on the safety of Nara. As of April 1st, the Japanese Government is advising for the evacuation of those who live within 20km of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Residents of the area between 20 and 30km are advised to stay indoors or voluntarily evacuate. These are the only numerical standards we have, but here in Nara Prefecture, our daily lives are just as they were before the earthquake.
Q: Has radiation been detected in the water or vegetables produced around Nara Prefecture?
S: Please do not worry, for radiation has not been detected in agricultural products or water in Nara Prefecture. Radiation above provisional regulation values was detected in vegetables and milk produced in four prefectures in East (Kanto) and Northeastern Japan, and shipping of these products is restricted. Stores within Nara were monitored and none of the products in the restricted categories were found. It is said that even if we eat foods containing radiation above provisional regulation values, it will not immediately harm our health if intake is within normal amounts.
Q: I heard about rolling blackouts. Are they happening in Nara Prefecture?
S: Currently, there is no plan for rolling blackouts in Nara. But please note that some illumination at sightseeing sites has been cancelled (as of April 5th).
Q: In Nara, do stores have problems with the selling out of bottled water or food?
S: We are not having any big problems in Nara, but there were consumers all over Japan who bought bottled water or preserved food in large amounts. We all need to think clearly and act wisely.
Q: Have your daily lives been affected by the earthquake or the nuclear power plant accidents?
S: I don’t see any big changes in my daily living.
Q: Presently, do foreign governments advise their people not to visit Western Japan unless it is absolutely necessary?
S: Some countries restrict trips to Japan or Northeastern Japan, and there are some people who voluntarily avoid visiting. However, as I said, in Western Japan including Nara, people have been living just as before the earthquake. I hope that people who are thinking about visiting Japan consider the situation comprehensively.
Q: Is it possible to come to Japan without using airports in eastern Japan?
S: Yes. To visit Nara, Kansai International Airport is convenient. It is about 80 minutes from the airport to the center of Nara City by limousine bus.
Q: Personally, what can I do for those who suffered due to the earthquake and resulting tsunami?
S: Thank you for your concern. It is important that our support will not add any burden to the stricken areas. Nara Prefecture asks for donations through the Japanese Red Cross Society or Community Chest of Japan. The Nara Prefectural government does not accept relief goods from individuals.
(Japanese Red Cross Society, Nara Branch)
http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~jrc-nara/
(Community Chest of Nara)
http://www.nara-akaihane.com/snews_touhokukantou.html
There is also another meaningful way to aid survivors. Japanese industries are being seriously affected by rumors concerning radioactive contamination. You can help the Japanese economy rebound by purchasing Japanese foods without prejudice that have been proven to be safe, or by visiting unaffected Western Japan. I would like to ask your kind understanding and support.
Everyone in Japan knows about Nara’s famous deer – not only are they cute, they’re sociable too…so long as you’ve got something for them to eat! Many visitors to Nara Park find themselves in a bit of trouble once they’ve run out of the deer crackers they’ve purchased from a vendor, and that’s because many of the deer like to give an encouraging nudge to convince you to look for/buy more.
If that sounds like it could be a little dangerous, you’re right! The male deer’s antlers need to be cut to ensure the safety of visitors, and this is actually a tradition called shika-no-tsunokiri that dates back over a century to the Edo Period of Japan. Male deer are rounded up in a pen every October, and brave men who have volunteered for the task cut the antlers off with a saw. The event is open to the public (admission is charged) and more information can be found on our website.
http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/dd_aspx_menuid-1732.htm
