The Nara Letterbox

6/16/08 -- Just got a detailed message about this letterbox. It seems there's been some renovations along the bridge where I hid the box, and that it's now gone... It will probably be quite some time before I'm ever in that part of Japan again -- so this letterbox, unfortunately, is retired.

They call them the Messengers of the Gods, and they roam everywhere in Nara Park, in Nara, Japan.

Nara is about 30 miles south of Kyoto. Depending on which rail system you take, you can arrive into Nara at either the Kintetsu Nara Station or the JR Nara Station.

Either way, once off the train, grab a tourist map at the station and then head East.

Nara Park is big, with many attractions. Enjoy, take your time, and don't forget to feed the deer!They have little kiosks all over which sell deer crackers. I'm still not sure why all the deer just don't attack them and grab all the crackers. Everything is nice and calm until you actually buy the crackers, and then all hell breaks loose!

What you're looking for, eventually, is the Todaiji Temple where the Daibutsu (the Great Buddha) is.

There is a long building which preceeds the temple, where they sell the tickets to see the Daibutsu. The ticket booths are at the left side of this building.

To the left of the ticket booth area are some bathrooms and a small rest area.

Go down the path that's next to it.

There will be an intersection of paths, with a small bridge to your left.

Cross over the bridge. The box will be on your left-hand side, just after the bridge.

Just next to the second support-stake is a dark recess that goes under the path. The letterbox is hidden in there behind a rock.

Happy Trails!