Posts Tagged ‘nara’

English language information on things to see in Nara

The Japan Times reports about a new free English language magazine aimed at foreign tourists who visit Nara:

With the launch of Nara Explorer this month, there is now an English magazine that introduces the area’s long and complex history in a clear and concise way and offers practical information to overseas visitors that is hard, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. The quarterly publication is free and available in the city.

The premiere issue introduces cultural attractions like the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple, natural wonders like the Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest and a calendar of summer events in the city and prefecture.

Gourmets will appreciate the list of restaurants ranging from small shops serving plum-flavored noodles to a cafe offering dishes with “kodai-mai,” an ancient rice variety symbolic of Nara. Nara Explorer also has advertisements for English-language walking tours and practical information for the foreign traveler on where to exchange money or get more information in English.

For more info, check out NaraExplorer.jp.

Nara mascot faces internet rival

The struggle to do away with Nara’s new mascot has made it into the Asahi Shinbun:

NARA–Saying the official choice of a mascot to celebrate the 1,300th anniversary of the relocation of the capital here is just not cute enough, a citizens group has created a rival critter: Manto-kun, pictured right.

Manto-kun was chosen from 619 proposals by ballot and over the Internet, members of Creators Forum Yamato said Monday. About 49,000 people voted.

The group came up with the alternative mascot because the official mascot, Sento-kun, left, is “not cute,” members said.

Local merchants say they plan to use Manto-kun. Nara, which became the capital in 710, is celebrating the anniversary in 2010.

In a previous JapanProbe.com poll, a mere 11% found Sento-kun to be better than average, with only 3% declaring him to be “cute.” Let’s see how he matches up to his new rival:

[via Rocking in Hakata]

Japan Photo of the Week: Deer of Nara Park

Mother’s day is coming up, so in honor of that I tried to find a photo that fits. Of course I have no way of knowing for sure, as I am no animal expert, but I like to imagine that these deer are a family.

This photo was taken in Nara Koen, where deer roam freely. If you are in the Kansai region and don’t have plans yet for Mother’s Day, why not spend it at Nara Park? In any case, Happy Mother’s Day and if you want more information about Nara Koen head over to Japan Photo Guide for more information and photos of Nara Koen.

This photograph was taken by Evan Pike.

Cracker Throwing Competition

A news report about a deer-cracker throwing competition held on the 23rd in Nara Park:

• About 1000 people took place in the competition, which involved long distance throwing of crackers sold throughout Nara as food for the many deer that roam Nara Park.
• A family is shown throwing around a frisbee as practice for the event. When the little boy finally throws his cracker, it reaches a distance of 44.78 meters, far greater than he had achieved in the previous year’s competition.
• A normal cracker has a diameter of 8 centimeters, but the official crackers of the competition have a 20 centimeter diameter. A deer-cracker factory specially makes the 1500 giant crackers used in the competition.
• Throwing deer-crackers is pretty difficult, and it is not rare for crackers to fly out of control and hit spectators. Some throwers also fell off the stage!
• Taro Hayashi won the competition, throwing a cracker to a record distance of 59 meters.