Japan Day 6: Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Todai-ji, Dotonbori, Namba Yasaka, Osaka Castle, Shinsekai

We travelled to Nara, early morning, and walked across the giant forest park to Kasuga Taisha shrine (and was not prepared to climb up stairs again), and met (and were screamed at) by many deer along the way. We fed them cookies, and prompty ran away when we didn't have any more to give them because they definitely do eat any dangling straps or clothing. When they ask for cookies though, they're very polite, and they bow at you!

We passed by what seemed to be the central area, as there were a ridiculous amount of tourists running around harrassing deer, and being harrassed by deer. Good on you, deer. It's good that the deer can defend themselves. We saw different kids of deer. Cute, spotted, female ones. Teenage bucks play fighting. The younger ones don't seem as used to humans quite yet, and Moose got head-butted by what seemed to be the Boss Deer.

We then went to Todai-ji to visit the Great Buddha. He's massive! There's a column in the temple called "The Buddha's Nostril" as it is the same size as the nostril of the big Buddha statue. Legend has it that anyone who can pass through will live a long, prosperous life, and eventually find enlightenment.

After Nara, we took a train to Osaka. I love Osaka.

The first place we visited in Osaka was Dotonbori. Wow, was it a sight! We exited onto the street, and it was full of colour, and signs, and food! We've heard that Osaka is the Kitchen of Japan, so we were excited to try some Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki. I bought some art from a gentleman, and we watched him colour in his next piece for a little bit.

We walked to Namba Yasaka Shrine, and then to Osaka Castle. I love Osaka. The people are different. "Louder", and tan. The city itself seems louder, and there's music everywhere you go! Buskers, and performances in parks! There was a Superfly concert going on, and another performance outdoors where we could overhear them play Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, and Stand By Me.

A neat little thing we noticed was that every place we went to had custom manhole covers. What a clever way to beautify the streets. We went to Shinsekai for dinner. Protip: Don't eat at Dotonbori. Eat in Shinsekai, as the food will be just as good, if not better, but at better prices! Shinsekai is also gorgeous to look at. The lights at night are beautiful. We passed by more gachapons, and found some mystery adult sex toy gachapons!

We went to Usagiya for some dinner, and they had a special oyster okonomiyaki (Spoiler alert: this was my absolute favourite okonomiyaki during the whole trip. And we had a lot of okonomiyaki). It was made of dreams.