Day 6 • November 25, Tuesday

On our last full day, we left around 6 AM and walked through nonstop rain that only eased in the afternoon. It was cold but nice, though the wet made everything a bit of a hassle. The ride to Nara felt similar to our trip to Minoh, but finding the right station platform in the rain was a struggle, especially with the seniors.

We arrived at Nara Station around 9 and took the loop bus around Nara Park. We got off near the Nara Park Bus Terminal, a modern central hub where we rested first and waited for the rain to calm down. The terminal was really nice. There were souvenir shops, and I bought deer-themed washi tapes. They also had displays about deer do’s and don’ts, which had been informative.

We asked the staff for directions, and he ended up sharing stories about Nara and the deer. He explained that the deer are considered sacred, as a deity was believed to have arrived riding a white deer, making them messengers of the gods. He also mentioned the Ashura statue and how the area became a place where Buddhism and Shinto learned to coexist. He recommended we visit it, saying it would give a deeper understanding of Nara’s history and not just the deer. It was a bit sad that we didn’t get to see it, since we needed to be back in Osaka before 18:00 for our tattoo appointment.

Anyway, we still managed to roam around since Asis and I decided to part ways with the group. We followed the map given by the staff and started at the spots he recommended. It would have been even nicer if it hadn’t been raining. It was both exciting and a bit intimidating to be surrounded by so many deer, and the rain gave the place a mysterious charm, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be under clear skies. I would also love to go back and visit Mount Wakakusa and witness the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival.

Another highlight was spotting a Jimny gachapon. We were hoping to get the beige one, and on the first try—voila! We got it. We were so shocked! We ended our day trip with sukiyaki, the beef just melting in our mouths. We also tried the Nara-themed photobooth.

Nara is a place we’d happily return to, rain or shine. Can’t wait to explore more next time.

We arrived back in Osaka around 15:00, but we parted ways with our family again to head to our tattoo appointment. We just walked from the station, and I love walking in Japan. The cold made it bearable.

It was funny because on the way to Daikoku Ink Studio, we passed by the famous giant lion-head stage, which looks like a monster’s mouth. We did not know it was there since we had not done any research, but it was nice to see it in person. We did not go inside because there were too many people, so we continued to our tattoo appointment. We arrived around 17:00 and were done before 19:00.

Afterward, we walked back to our Airbnb. They had a washing machine but no dryer, so we went to the nearest self-service laundry just one street away. While waiting, we went to the LIFE grocery store and bought more goodies to take back home.

It was such a long day, exhausting but fulfilling.

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Day 7 • November 26, Wednesday – Bound for the Philippines

Our flight got delayed for a few hours, but we were fine with it. We still had a lot of balance left on our ICOCA cards and some loose change, so we made sure to spend everything on vending machine drinks and at FamilyMart in the airport.

Also, it was smart marketing making passengers pass through the duty-free area on the way to the gates. I told myself I would not buy anything else, but I still walked out with Le Labo Another 13 and a Wood Sage & Sea Salt from Jo Malone. So impulsive.

We got to witness a beautiful sunset from the plane. Since we were flying toward the Philippines in a different time zone, it felt like we were chasing it. The sun slowly dipped as the sky’s colors shifted gradually. It was such a lovely sight.

Japan has truly been a dream come true, such a beautiful country. If only we had a multiple-entry visa, we would be there all the time. For now, we carry these memories with us.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Matane, Nihon. ˎˊ˗

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