But something about Nara had struck a chord with the kids, so back to Nara for day two! We picked up where we left off, and took a bus up to the Todai-ji area.
From there we went up the mountain towards Kasugataisha shrine. We stopped at the Manyo botantical gardens along the way. This was the first of many Manyo gardens which were built, based on the oldest collection of poetry in Japan. Due to modern technology it is somewhat interactive! There are QR codes at each of the different plants, with links to the poems that reference them.
The garden was exquisite. Although small, it was easily one of my favorites on this trip. The garden has a simple charm to it that makes it feel entirely natural, despite being obviously cultivated. From nearly any where to stand, to any where you look, the view is spectacular. The showpiece is obviously meant to be the wisteria gardens, which sadly do not bloom until late April or early May.
After leaving the botanical garden, we continued up the mountain to Kasuga Taisha shrine. It is located deep in the forest, and like most places actually hosts a series of shrines. We followed the path to visit each in turn. The tourist groups drop off quickly after the main shrine, making the remainder more enjoyable. The combination of misty mountain air and the quiet forest made it feel a lot like home.
After paying our respects at the third shrine, we decided to take a different trail down the mountain, which put us out near… -GASP- …near the Harushika Sake brewery! Where a tasting flight of 5 premium sakes can be had for only 700 yen!
First we had to get lunch. We all agreed on a restaurant that served baked curries. We had a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. The curries are baked in little cauldrons and served sizzling at the table. I had the Wagyu curry set. Unexpected was the inclusion of an egg and cheese in the baked curry.
Let me tell you. I was at first dubious about cheese in a curry. But no more! Cheese is our savior! Long live the cheese in curry!
Following lunch we wandered back to the Harushika brewery and I got my tasting flight. It was great. The first two sake were nothing special – a bit comparable to a decent sake back home, like the Hotaru or the premium Hakutsuru.
The third was really, really good – it had a complex flavour and some real depth. You could taste the koji, but it was overpowering, and the flavour did not linger longer than it had to. Easy to drink, easier to enjoy. Only available in the 3L bottle, which is a bit challenging to bring home.
The fourth was sweet sake that was more like wine. It was delicious and we bought a bottle to enjoy at the apartment. The final sake was a bubbly sake, and on its own it was mediocre. But with the pickled vegetables it was intended to be paired with it became a drink of pure, undiluted joy.
We finished up with a visit to Nara’s oldest (in the city limits, at least) shrine Gango-ji. The temple grounds were not large to explore but the garden was very well done. Plants were just starting to bloom and it would be even more impressive once spring arrives. You can tour the main hall (but no photos!) and there quite a few historical pieces of art, along with explanations in English and Japanese.
On our way back to the station, we happened across a Gatcha capsule store. Gambling? I’m in! We had a lot of fun checking out the various machines and trying out luck for keychains. All in all we were pretty successful and everyone was pretty happy with the day.