Getting sick in a foreign country isn’t exactly new for us. On our trip through South America a couple of years back, we managed to get through COVID, a sprained ankle, and some intense altitude sickness, and still have an amazing time. So catching a cold in Japan? Totally handleable.

That said, buying cold medicine in a country where you can’t read the labels is a little intimidating. Even in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, where English is common in signs and menus, it is absent from pharmacies.

Thankfully, I started feeling better last night, so Kelly and I headed out to the Nishiki Market, which runs through central Kyoto. This market doesn’t specialize in anything too exotic (though there were some wild squid-on-a-stick situations), but it’s pretty fun to soak up the market’s energy, even when a good amount of the patrons are tourists.

But the highlight of this post is really our day trip to Nara.

Nara is known for its many shrines and temples, as well as its semi-domesticated 1,400ish miniature deer population. The deer roam freely through Nara Park and the temple areas.

Kelly and I visited the Tōdai-ji temple. Until the turn of the century, this temple was the world’s largest building made entirely of wood. It featured, you guessed it, a gigantic Buddha. Here are some shots of the temple, its gate, the Buddha, and other Buddhist guardian deities.

There was a pillar inside that supposedly allows you to obtain enlightenment in your next life if you can squeeze through the small square opening at its base. Woot Kelly!

Leaving the temple, Nara deer were all over the place. They walk right up to people, since tourists have been feeding them “deer crackers” for generations, sold in stalls throughout the park. The deer are so comfortable around humans that there are warning signs posted to remind visitors to be cautious.

They were pretty fun, though!

Yoshikien Garden, pictured above, was a peaceful stop that gave us a nice break from the crowds.

We wrapped up our time in Nara with a hike up Wakakusayama Hill to check out the city from above. You can prominently see the Tōdai-ji temple in the cityscape.