Nara-Kyoto-Osaka 2009 (first episode)

I must admit that I am not a real backpacker, at least not a fully backpacker. I have done travel a lot without backpack and usually every travel would be planned carefully. Last month, me and 2 of my friends TCS and AG planned to go to triangle city in Kansai region for tourist spot (Nara, Kyoto and Osaka) by a car. Too bad, TCS canceled the plan cause he was broke as he said, and we must canceled everything because we don't have any driver to drive the car (TCS is the only one from us who has car drive license).

興福寺 (Koufuku-Ji) in Nara

AG never went to the Kansai's triangle city before and very excited with the plan. As an alternative transportation, he started to browse the net to search for 乗り放題(norihoudai) ticket train and he found it in the JR (Japan Railway) program. In commemoration of 鉄道の記念 (Tetsudou no Kinen-Railway Day), JR group was selling special tickets that allow unlimited travel along all its lines in Japan for 3 days. That was just appropriate with our plan, 3 days unlimited travel ticket for 3 days travel plan. The only one problem was our lodging for 2 night during the travel and we only found 2 kinds of lodge types with lower price, capsule hotel and manga cafe. But we would decide that later, after arrived in the city.

二月堂 (Nigatsudou - The Hall of second month) in Todaiji complex area.

By carrying our backpack, we embarked our journey to Nara, an ancient city which was served as Japan capital city during Nara period (710-784). As the Buddhism influence was very strong along the Nara period, there are lots of Buddhist temples you can find in Nara e.g. Kofukuji, Saidaiji, Kasuga Jinja, Nigatsudou, but we went directly to the most famous one, 東大寺 (Todaiji). The Todaiji's 大仏殿 (Daibutsuden-Great Buddha Hall) was claimed as the largest wooden building in the world, an ancient one and still stand until now. Meet the 大仏 (Daibutsu-Large Buddha) statue when you enter the hall, it might be the most ancient large Buddha statue ever made (752) in Japan, although it has been rebuild after destroyed by fire twice.

Shika (deers) between tourists in foreground of Todaiji main gate.

大仏殿 (Daibutsuden - Great Buddha Hall) inside Todaiji complex area

You can visit 奈良公園 (Nara Kouen-Nara Park) which is located near by The Todaiji complex area. You can find a lot of 鹿 (Shika-Deer) in there and feed them with 鹿煎餅 (shika senbei-deer crackers). Well, the shika deer looks very tame if you feed them, even you can touch and flatter them.

心斎橋筋（Shinsaibashi-suji) at night, the Osaka's main shopping area.

When it was getting dark, we start to discuss about our lodge and decide to search it around Shinsaibashi district, Osaka. We took local train toward Osaka station and move to subway train with destination Shinsaibashi. After walked about 1 hour, we meet a Japanese who deal advertising leaflet about manga cafe (or internet cafe) and asked him about the manga cafe whose he promoted. When we ask about thrift price, he told us (by whispering) to go to Dotonbori area and showed a manga cafe with special price and cheaper than the manga cafe that he promoted. Wow, I never expected that he would be very kind to give us information about his manga cafe's competitor. Maybe he just did the arubaito (part-time job), but I am still gratefully give him my appreciate. Thanks to him, we enjoyed 1200 yen/8 hours in manga cafe with internet connection, games, free manga to read, free drinks and shower (with surcharge), and also a place to rest sleep through the night.

道頓堀 (Dotonbori) at night, the manga cafe is located on the right side of street.

Next posting: Kyoto