It has been an amazing first month here at Kansai Gaidai University and there has been no shortage of trips to all the nearby prefectures. It is difficult to choose my favorite place in Japan so far, but my trip to Nara was exceptionally fun. My friends and I spent the day exploring the Nara Deer Park, petting and feeding as many deer as possible. As long as you had food in your hands, the deer were so polite, even going as far as bowing before eating the food we gave them. However, the second you ran out of food you had to show the deer that your hands were empty or else they would chase you around and even headbutt you.
    
We also went to Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) which is in the center of the Nara Deer Park. This was a beautiful Buddhist temple with so much history behind it. The moment you walk inside, you are met with a massive statue of the Great Buddha. Right in front of the Buddha, you are able to light incense and pray before you walk through the temple. Many smaller more intricate statues surrounded the Great Buddha with plaques that shared the history of the temple. Unfortunately I couldn’t read the plaques because they were all in Japanese, but the experience itself was incredible. After exiting the temple, you can drink water from a well that is used for annual Omizutori(water receiving) festivals.

We then ended the day with some delicious sushi, and choclate parfaits, before hopping back on the train a returning to Kansai Gaidai. It has only been a week since we went to Nara, but I already want to go back so I can pet more deer and explore more of the beautiful park.