From Kyoto, we headed to Fushimi Inari … and as expected, it was incredibly busy. We wandered around, browsing here and there, taking in the energy of the place, and even found time to try the famous 10-yen coin–shaped, custard-filled pancake, which was a fun (and sweet) little treat along the way.

Fushimi Inari is home to thousands of vermilion torii gates that seem to go on forever. Walking through them felt almost surreal, like stepping into a different world… with everything drenched in brilliant vermilion.

We eventually reached a gap in the trail, where our tour guide gave us a choice: continue further up the mountain or head back down. Well, some chose to go to the top but of course I chose the second option.

Fox statues can be seen all around Fushimi Inari. Known as kitsune, they are believed to be the messengers of the god Inari. Often holding keys or scrolls in their mouths, they add a quiet, mysterious feel to the shrine and remind you of its deep spiritual meaning.

More vermilion shrines on the way down… and yes, my top matched perfectly ❤️⛩️

Some with lamps that were beautifully designed.

Next we went to see the Deers of Nara. I knew there were a lot of deer in Nara because I’d seen them on Instagram, but I didn’t realise they roamed freely everywhere. They wander through the parks, streets, and even near the temples, completely at ease around people. Seeing them up close was both surprising and charming, and it really felt like they were part of everyday life in Nara.

Our group was a bit skeptical about going near them, especially after our tour director shared a story about someone who got kicked by a deer and was so badly hurt that they couldn’t continue the tour and had to head back home.

Next, we went to see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Tōdai-ji in Nara

Inside and standing in front of the Giant Buddha was a humbling experience—the sheer size of the Buddha was overwhelming. The temple itself felt peaceful and grand, and seeing such an iconic and historic statue up close made the visit feel especially meaningful and memorable.

The petals of lotus pedestal on the Great Buddha Vairocana is seated are incised in hairline engraving with identical designs, dating from the Nara period (8 century)

Inside the Great Buddha Hall are more smaller statues.

Displayed nearby were these replicas of the hand gestures so visitors can see the incredible detail and scale up close.

Then it was time for Matcha and for Chocolate ice cream.

Arrived in Osaka at nearly night time. Had a bit of a rest and headed out to have dinner. On the way we saw these cute statues.

This was in 10 November 2025.