The Fushimi Inari Shrine is pictured on countless travel brochures for Japan. Rows of torii gates course up a mountain side filled with shrines. Over 3 million Japanese visit during the new year celebration January 1st-3rd each year to offer prayers for business success. It was our first stop Sunday morning led by a professional local guide.
The group split but most of us traveled next to Nara, home to the famous Todai’ji Shrine and large indoor Buddha. The grounds and park surrounding the area are filled with deer which the students enjoyed as much as the statues.
Nearby we climbed the hills to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine notable for the thousands of stone and metal lanterns lining the pathways. It was also a chance to interact with more local deer.
After a late lunch we drove back to Kyoto for free time in the city center. Students spent their remaining cash on souvenirs for themselves and friends/family.
Our last dinner was ramen served family style with fried meat dumplings. No one left hungry! Tomorrow morning we depart for the airport in Osaka. The first leg of our flight home takes us to San Francisco. We will be in the air for 14 hours, have a 3 hour layover, and only arrive in Houston a couple hours later Monday. The international time zone stole a day from us on the way over but gives it back on the return.
Thank you to everyone who has been following our trip—we will see you Monday night at IAH!
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