Solo | Backpacking | Japan

[Ankur003]

Nice shots bro. Silly question so you carried your luggage to all these places since you didnt check into any hotel

Thanks Venket. Not really. You will get your answer in next post
By the way, idea was to travel light. Infact my whole backpack was only used for my camera/lens/tripod etc + food. Everything in my bag was either eatable or disposable.

Wonderful stuff, @Ankur003! It's a treat to see Japan through your camera!!

Thanks Sandeep sir. Glad you liked it!

Superb stuff Bhai

Thanks Tapas bhai... You have inspired a lot of people to travel solo.. Time to write another blog for you "How to convince wife to allow solo travel ?"

 

[tintin63]

Thanks Tapas bhai... You have inspired a lot of people to travel solo.. Time to write another blog for you "How to convince wife to allow solo travel ?"

This will be a mega hit.

Good going by the way Ankur.
Will wait for your post about the capsule hotel. Have heard an interesting thing about the same. Looking forward to see if it indeed is true.

 

[Ankur003]

This will be a mega hit.

Good going by the way Ankur.
Will wait for your post about the capsule hotel. Have heard an interesting thing about the same. Looking forward to see if it indeed is true.

Thanks Nitin. Ohh my experience about the capsule hotel will come in Tokyo and Tokyo abhi door hai
chupke se PM me batade what you heard about capsule hotels

 

[Ankur003]

Day 1 – Nara
Nara (奈良) was Japan first permanent establishment. Later due to political reasons, emphasis on development shifted from Nara. This has enabled Nara to house some of the most oldest and rich shrines and temples only next to Kyoto. Nara can be easily covered as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. Few people recommend to stay a few days in Nara to enjoy the place completely.

Heading to Nara from Osaka

Nara is closer to Osaka as compared to Kyoto. So it made sense for me to visit Nara before I head to my base for next few days (Kyoto). Distance between Osaka and Nara is around 35kms and it takes a little over 1 hour by train. Since I already had Kansai Thru pass, I did not have to buy any more tickets for the travel involved. As I had started pretty early for the day, by 11 AM had reached Nara.

I have been in Japan for only 10 hours by now but I had already concluded few things. Finding Vegetarian food is tough, almost every possible thing can be bought from a vending machine and coin lockers are available in abundance in all train stations.

Coin lockers

I kept my backpack in coin lockers in Nara train station and took only my camera bag with me. Coin lockers are available in various sizes and charge is according to the size of locker. Bigger lockers cost 700Y (Can keep biggest suitcases or bags) and smaller ones costs around 300Y (can keep laptop bags). Rate of each locker is charged on per day basis and not on 24 hours basis. So if you keep your luggage before midnight 12AM, you will be charged twice.

Array of Coin Lockers. They are available on mostly all train stations

Kofukuji Temple

All Nara attractions are walk-able from Kintetsu Nara station. You can also catch a bus from station but I preferred walking.I always prefer walking over small distance instead of using buses. I think it increases my exposure to local areas, people and gives me opportunity for some street photography as well.

Kofukuji temple was built in 710 and is one of the oldest temple. Main hall was destroyed due to fire and is under-construction, which is due to be completed in 2018 only. Eastern hall, a pagoda and Southern halls are only surviving buildings left of the temple.

Eastern Hall, Has a entry fees of 300Y

The Southern Octagonal Hall

Weather has been disappointing today. Very cloudy and no sunlight. I would have loved to shoot these marvelous temples against blue skies. Alas!

Deer Park

Most of Nara’s attraction are located in a big park names Nara park. Nara park is famous of deers. These deers are tamed and are friendly to visitors. Local street vendors sell some crackers food for deers for 150Y. Feeding these deers can be dangerous if many deers are attracted towards you. These deers roam freely across the city. They are smart enough to avoid roads and know how to cross in traffic. Locals proudly comment that these deer cross roads only on green lights. However I did not see any such instance.

Todaiji Temple

Todaiji (東大寺) is one of Japan’s most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. Said to be constructed in 752, Todaiji is the not to be missed place in Nara.

Main Hall building

Todaiji’s main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall) is the world’s largest wooden building. The massive building houses one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha (Daibutsu). The 15 meters tall, seated Buddha represents Vairocana and is flanked by two Bodhisattvas.

These wooden cups can be used to wash hands before entering the temple

Patrons praying by lighting incense sticks

Big Buddha of Todaiji

Cherry blossom in Nara

Not really know for cherry blossom tress but I found Nara has ample cherry tree gardens. A big garden near Todaiji temple had many tress near full bloom when I visited. Well, I realized later in my trip that cherry trees are everywhere.

A lady in traditional Japanese dress called Kimono

A lone tree in near by lanes. (Damn you white sky!!)

My Lunch for the day. Rice dumplings with Soy sauce. Only vegetarian dish I could find near Todaiji. Thankfully these lovely ladies had mentioned the product description in English.

Heading to my base for next four days, Kyoto

After a heartily shoot of Todaiji Temple, big Buddha and its establishments, I spent some time feeding deers and clicking Sakura trees. I headed to Kyoto next using Kintetsu railways. I had already booked my stay in Kyoto. Since Cheery blossom is most popular time to visit Kyoto and all hotels/guesthouses were either booked or had over the roof tariff rates. In about three hours, after getting lost multiple times, changing a few trains and buses, I reached my stay for next four days, Oto guest house. A relatively newer make and warm setup of the guesthouse was inviting and I totally loved it at first sight.

​

 

[msvenket]

Wonderful man . By the way got the answer about the luggage

 

[Gurusathy]

hi Ankur,

Great snaps!!!! in the bamboo grove pic, you've blurred the people, making them almost invisible but it is awesome... how did you do it???

 

[Ankur003]

Wonderful man . By the way got the answer about the luggage

Its good we do not have any such thing in India. Terrorist will lock a timer bomb and catch a flight back to Pak

 

[Ankur003]

hi Ankur,

Great snaps!!!! in the bamboo grove pic, you've blurred the people, making them almost invisible but it is awesome... how did you do it???

Thanks Guru. I have used a ND filter in this picture which enabled me to take a long exposure in day time. Since people were moving around they got blurred.

 

[Gurusathy]

now I understand use of ND filters first hand thanks

Thanks Guru. I have used a ND filter in this picture which enabled me to take a long exposure in day time. Since people were moving around they got blurred.

 

[adsatinder]

Thanks Tapas bhai... You have inspired a lot of people to travel solo.. Time to write another blog for you "How to convince wife to allow solo travel ?"

Eat kicks daily !
Stop counting after 100...
With daily heavy homework !