Nara Kasuga Taisha, Wakakusa Mountain, Sarusawa Pond

Kasuga Taisha: At the entrance of Kasuga Taisha, a deer lies down with its head raised in front of the torii gate, while another deer stands proudly in the center under the gate. There are also deer statues nearby, truly living up to the name of the sacred deer of Kasuga. Inside the shrine, you can see deer leisurely strolling around. Wakakusa Mountain: From Kasuga Taisha, there is a small path leading to Wakakusa Mountain. The mountain is beautiful with vast expanses of grass like green carpets. If it weren't for the intense sunlight, one would love to lie down and enjoy the lush grass and the blue sky with white clouds. From the top of Wakakusa Mountain, you can overlook the entire city of Nara. Many tourists brave the sun to wait for the sunset. Sarusawa Pond: Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, there was a celebration at Sarusawa Pond in the evening. We descended the mountain at five o'clock and found the pond crowded with people. The whole event was solemn and not noisy, giving an inadvertent sense of traditional Japanese Mid-Autumn atmosphere. It was wonderful!