Horyuji
The city’s main attraction is the Castle that played a major role in the unification of Japan in the 16th century. Visitors can access the restored main tower. Its five floors are filled with exhibits that provide a glimpse into Japanese history and culture. And, of course, it comes with a grand view from the top floor.
The most fascinating feature of the Castle for me was the technique used to build the foundation and walls. Large stone blocks are fitted together without mortar around an earth mound. During an earthquake, the blocks can move slightly and the entire construction survives with no damage.
It was too early to return to Nara after seeing the Castle. I noticed brightly colored boats in the moat and decided to have a ride. The boat did not go around the Castle. It sailed a little to the left and stood there, then a little to the right and stood there too. Most of 20 minutes of the ride time, the boat did not move.
Rather disappointed by my boating experience, I looked for a place to have lunch. Dining in Japan was hit-and-miss. Sometimes, I had a delicious meal, purely by chance. Next time, it was something that my stomach could not digest. The meal in Osaka falls into the latter category. The menu promised “green tea noodles with young sardines and okra”. The dark green noodles came in slimy and salty sauce. Okra was there but I could not find “young sardines” on my plate.
On the following day, when my husband and I went to Kyoto we ate at a small café where we ordered lunch by pressing buttons on a machine. The food was cooked in the café’s kitchen and brought to us. Our trays were set with bowls of tofu, miso soup, rice, vegetable salads and two frying pans with the main dishes.
