Japan trip - Day 18

This day we decided to go visit Nara. Not only because its very close but also because it is peaceful and just breath taking.
We got up and left really early. Got on the train and arrived very fast. I was hungry because we skipped breakfast so we went to the nearest Mr. Donuts. There's such a huge selection of donuts there... i very rarely have eaten a donut in my life actually so i was excited.

Our breakfast. YUM!

We left the donut shop and just started our stroll around town. We just went throught one of the many shopping streets around there. It was really cold, i think it was one of the coldest days in the entire trip.

An entrance to a small temple. There are shrines and temples everywhere.

A typical store in Nara. Gorgeous.

I fell in love with this kimono. <3

Art good store. I love brushes and stamps. 

We then got to one of those covered shopping streets. I loved the ceilings because there were deer carvings everywhere. So cute.

The deers on the ceilings.

Even in very traditional places the modern co-exists. So anywhere you can find animation related things... or themed stuff.

Evangelion @ Nara

   

Giving something for support.

Then we got at the city hall area which is where all the deers are. It's a huge area and its very peaceful even though there are a lot of tourists around. I really like taking strolls there.

The area temples are all more of less in this place.
The first one you will find is Kufukuji.

Local temple: Kofukuji

It was very windy but i wanted to take my first Blythe trip shot there. I really like the way she was dressed and the contrast between the outfit colors, the neutral colors of the architecture and the blue sky.

My girl posing and looking gorgeous. 

We walked around some more, we wanted to visit another nearby temple and of course along the way we saw beautiful traditional looking temples and houses.

such as this...

The first time we saw a bunch of deer together my husband just decided to take photos of them and with them. He even placed my girl on one of them, it didn't mind it at all!

One of the most fabulous blythe shots i'll ever take.

This was amusing. It was a warning explaining what deer might do to you and how to not interact with them. I love this kind of thing in japan.

warning sign

And because deer are cute (even when hornless and spotless)...

Feeding the deer

There were a ton of different stalls as the temple became closer... especially snack stalls.

YUM!

There were also rickshaw rides available. But i always feel sorry for the people who have to carry them for some reason. I felt the same way when i was living in China.

Traditional rickshaw

Don't you find this sign to be ridiculously creepy? I can't tell you why exactly but it gives me the creeps. 

As we were getting closer to the famous Todaiji temple the number of people present seemed to increase as well.

People and deer around the temple entrance.

This stall caught my attention, so cute, all those colors and random goods. I really like street stalls.

Nara goods heaven

And of course both of us took a shot in front of the gate, because that's what tourists do.

Impressive, isn't it?

Since we had already visited the temple and there was a huge line waiting to get in, i told my husband we didn't need to go again and we just left. My little friend wasn't very happy because it was her first time there but we still managed to get a nice photo as a souvenir.

She was looking forward to going to the temple. 

I was getting hungry again so when i saw a nikuman stall. I love those. I used to have veggie ones in shanghai for breakfast every single day.

Delicious nikuman

We started heading back because we had to meet my father in law for dinner at a specific time and we didn't want to be late.

even poles have deer stickers.

I saw this small shinto shrine, the Himuro shrine. I really loved how it was small and right next to such big temples. I figured we could pay our respects there instead so we got in.
It was freezing and they had a block of ice right in the center where people left their offerings. We left something as well.

Ice block holding coins.

The rope.

Paying my respect

After that we started getting really cold and continued our journey back.
Along the way we saw snow for the first time during that trip. Really small flocks but gorgeous and i acted like a little girl and there's actual video evidence of that but i know better than to post it here haha. Come over to my place and ask and i'll play it for you. XD

We got a cup of coffee and visited some stores.

Shopping street

huge macaron tower

Gigantic icecream called the "Sumo wrestler parfait". o.O 

mister donut again but only for coffee. 

bento wall at the 100yen store.

And finally we were back at the station.

information building, nara station

JR Nara station

this is what a train sign looks like, pretty easy to understand.

When we finally got to Oji dad hadn't gotten there yet so we waited inside a convenience store for a bit. He arrived a couple of minutes later so we ran to the car and got it. It was sooo cold!

We were going to their usual sushi restaurant again. I didn't complain of course :D

Sushi and the powder green tea that is offered for free.

Just like the last time, to show how one can pick specific sushi or dishes that for some reason are not coming soon on the revolving mat.

I made a small video of the mat for my older brother because he loves these things. I hope you enjoy. <3

Sushi roll restaurant. That's where we ate.

After dinner we headed back home. Because we had dinner very early we went to the local small department store to get some last minute souveniers etc.

One piece stuff at a random supermarket. I am not a fan but i like showing this sort of thing so people start thinking that as a whole anime related stuff is just something completely available everywhere and to everyone at the moment, not like lolita.

I finally got home and looked at all the nice things i gor for my girls. It was a great day.

A bunch of cute bags/containers that i'll turn into caps.

Some of the outfit sets i got for the girls. I like them to twin.

Food shaped eraser sets. Hopefully these will work in a blythe kitchen. If i ever find a realistic but affordable kitchen for them that is.

I got these for the curled ribbons. I want to make hair accessories for the girls with them, like dreads. 

My husband showing off one of my doll's new caps. Isn't it ridiculously adorable?

Strawberry clip set. I gave away some but still have a few for the girls.

Kaneko Yamada looking cute in her strawberry dress waving goodbye!

I hope you liked this post. My japan trip post segment is almost done, just one more post to go. <3

Love,
Jo