I didn’t know that, about Kurashiki! It was so pretty and classic Japanese — perhaps that it why. Because they MADE it that way to appeal to tourists.

I think that the temples you mention are in Kyoto, not Nara. Happily for me, when we returned in 2017 (with out kids!!!) I was able to go to Nara, and enjoyed the Daibutsu. Tragicly, I was to chubby to fit through the nostril that you can allegedly climb through.

Thank so much for reading, and for sharing your remembrerances of Japan with me. There are days that I still want to move there. -Alle