400 steps? More like 4,000,000

Today began with a swift walk through Nara Park, visiting Todaiji temple and Nigatsudo Hall. 
Then Keisuke took us to the country for the day. When asked before we left home where I would like to go, I said somewhere quiet, somewhere "spiritual ".
It is too much to tell except to say, it was a very special day. Keisuke brought a picnic lunch, complete with a little gas stove to make tea. He chose a place near one of the Shinto shines. Shinto is the ancient religion of Japan and it shows reverence for nature, closely aligned with environmental ideas. Here, the beautiful "chooks" wander freely.


Next we went to Hasedera Temple - many many steps, but well worth the effort. My knees coped!


On to Muto-Ji, the Buddha of Enlightenment. Here, apart from the beauty of the ancient sculptures, we were treated to some beautiful views - the afternoon sun on the spring leaves, with background of the Five Storied Pagoda.

And there's more. We strolled through the restored ancient village of Uda-Matsuyama  and completed the day with a French (with a Japanese touch) dinner.

We are all very tired!