World Heritage watching in Nara prefecture

Heijo Palace Site, Nara prefecture

 Nara is situated in the center of Japan that is a vertically long archipelago stretching in a north-south direction next to the east end of Eurasia continent as a world map shows. Nara is the birthplace of Japanese history. Nara was called Yamato in ancient times and it was the region where the oldest Japanese literature began.
 In 710, the ancient capital of Yamato was moved to Nara. After that, Nara became a cultural hub of Japan as the endpoint of the Silk Road and received many things and ideas from Europe and Asia. After importing Buddhism and other cultural assets from China and the Korean peninsula, Japan developed a unique culture.
 Nara is a city with a population of 1.4 million, attracting many tourists. In Nara, a lot of tourist assets that came from Japan's history and culture are scattered all around. Nara is within easy access of the other big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, so you can arrange your journey in various ways. (see also)




平城京は７１０年から約７０年間栄えた日本の首都で、いわゆる奈良の都です。当時の建物は残っていませんが朱雀門と大極殿が再建され、遣唐使船も展示されています。朱雀門と大極殿は大きいので遠景も美しいです。

These pictures were taken on July 2015.

Sika Deer

ニホンジカ（日本鹿）

According to legend, the god is said to have come to Nara riding on a white deer. Deer have been respected and protected as divine messengers by local people.

Heijo Palace Site

平城宮跡

Suzaku Gate (Suzaku Mon)

朱雀門

For about 70 years from 710, the capital of Japan was Heijokyo located in present day Nara City. Heijo Palace was situated at the northern end of the capital.

Heijo Palace Site

http://narashikanko.or.jp/en/isan/index.html#s1

Google map

https://goo.gl/maps/eNcao

Suzaku Gate (Suzaku Mon)

朱雀門

Suzakumon Gate, located in the center of the South Wall, was the main gate of Nara Palace. The name "Suzaku" derives from the Chinese name for the legendary bird which acted as a southern guardian. Built on a platform, Suzaku Gate was probably a two-storied structure, conspicuously larger than the other gates of the palace. The open space to the front was used for ceremonies such as New Year celebrations. Suzaku Avenue, the main street of the capital, was about 70 meters wide and ran from Rajo Gate, the main gate of the city, to Suzaku Gate.

Daigokuden Hall

Former Imperial Audience Hall

大極殿

Takamikura

Takamikura was the throne where the emperor sat during ceremonies of state.

The Imperial Audience Hall was the most important building in the palace. Emperor's throne (Takamikura) was set in the ceremonies of coronation and New Year's Day. This was the largest building in the palace, measuring 44 meters in width and 20 meters in depth, with 27 meters in height. The building was reconstructed based upon archaeological data and architectural studies on existing buildings of the Nara period.

Kento-shi-sen ; a ship taken by Japanese envoy to China during the Tang Dynasty

遣唐使船

Google map

https://goo.gl/maps/GNWwI

Shinkansen

Japanese foods are good and safe.

Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Beef tongue bowl

Ekiben ; Box lunch sold on a train or at a station

牛たん弁当

Tenzaru Soba
Tempura and Soba Noodles Served on a Zaru Basket
天ざるそば

 4 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.

 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.

 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."

 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.

 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.

 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.

公衆衛生ネットワーク

Public Health Network in Japan

http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/phnet/