Half of Nara is a sanctuary for deer.

This small child was not afraid of the deer at all. It was later eaten messily.

Nara, like Kyoto, is home to many major temples.

Apparently this is the second largest pagoda in Japan, second only to one in Kyoto.

There were many, many people out for first shrine visit.

This quiet corner of the park was left in an 18th cent. state.

On the other side of the quaint building.

The deer would eat specially sold biscuits.

... if they felt like it. They clearly knew that we were there for their amusement.

More quaint.

Another unafraid child, set out by the keepers to replace the one that was eaten. Note that they forgot to give it a pink hat.

This deer was chasing the giggling woman along the path.

We saw this a number of times: woman in full kimono with ripped jeans-wearing Hipster Boyfriend.

We never did figure out what the pattern was to who was wearing kimono. These old ladies were.

Small shrines lined the path and would hold candles at night.

The lanterns were covered with papers with prayers on them.

Through the gate into the temple grounds.

The path in a pristine, mob-less state.

At some point the path became a queue funneling past the temples.

A blocked-off path.

So! Many! People!

Each courtyard was lined with booths selling fortunes and souvenirs.

Two young women look over their fortunes.

The crowd near the greatest temple.

There were green fences to keep the money that people were throwing from flying wide and harming the temples.

Once you bought your fortune and read it over, you tied it to a tree...

... or to a trellis set up to handle the glut of fortunes...

... and when your fortune had worn out and fallen, it would come true.

Finally out of the crowd

Small fountains and shrines were *everywhere*.