Odawara
You have to tilt your head back to see the tiled, tiered roofs of Odawara Castle. The white walls and slitted windows squat squarely on the stone base that elevated the building for a better vantage point over the treetops. We did a short hike through the forest to reach the beach complex of fortified walls and moats, but only ended up touring the main castle. Inside is a museum that shows the history of the Hojo samurai family, from the battles that the fort survived, to the anime that its bloody feuds and noble lineage has inspired.
Kamakura
The Great Buddha sits at 13 meters high in the Kotoku-in Temple. Over 700 years old, it is landmark Buddhist monument in Japan. Once housed in a temple, it now is exposed to the elements outdoors in a small park. It attracts many tourists, some who didn’t have as good of an experience as I did. On our way there, a man tried to cross the street and ran into a bus. He stood up immediately, but was limping and his eye was bleeding. When his shoe fell off, so did his toe. After that, I started triple-checking before crossing.
Nara
Nara Park is home to Kofuku Temple, but is known for its deer park. It has an open field with many deer lounging in the shade and chasing visitors for crackers that are sold at stands. If you walk the trail into the woods, there are more deer wandering through the shrines and temples. We bought a pack of crackers, but ended up feeding them grass after we ran out. They’ll nibble on anything, even if not completely edible, like my aunt’s skirt.
Osaka
The streets around Tsutenkaku Tower, or the Ebisuhigashi area, are an explosion of colorful signs, wall art, shops and restaurants. Every corner is picturesque in its bright and eye-catching display, from a giant floating fish to sumo wrestler portraits. We only looked at the tower from afar, and instead bought souvenirs, like Gudetama socks and boba earrings.
The last temple we visited was Shitenno Temple. Floating lanterns, stone-carved posts, and dragon-adorned hand washing fountain stations were scattered throughout the grounds. The week has been so filled with temples that when I think about Japan, I can’t think of one without the other.
