Our next stop after Kyoto was Nara- the capital of Japan from 710 to 784.

Heian shrine torii gate in Kyoto.

The Heian shrine is a Shinto shrine with the Beppyo Jinja rank (the top rank for shrines). The shrine complex was built in 1895 and listed as an important cultural property of Japan.

Bye-bye Kyoto! The next stop- Nara.

Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture and the capital of Japan from 710 to 794, the Emperor lived there before moving the capital to Kyoto.

According to the legendary history of Kasuga Shrine, the god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Japan.

Since then the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting Nara and the country.

In 2017 there were more than 1,500 sika deer in the city.

Nigatsu-do is a temple in Nara. Was founded by a monk by the name of Sanetada in 752 and located on the hillside of Mount Wakakusa.

City view from the Nigatsu-do temple.

Todai-ji also known as Eastern Great Temple is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples of Japan. The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.

The beginning of building a temple can be dated to 728, when Emperor Shomu established Kinshosen-ji as an appeasement for Prince Motoi, his first son who died a year after his birth.

The Todai-ji monk.

Kongorikishi are two famous wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of Todai-ji. They were made of wood in 1203.