My second day in Japan was co-incidentally some minor national holiday. My friend Chad and his buddy Josh took me to visit the historic district of the town of Nara, Japan's first capital. While this did little for either my jet lag or culture shock, it did make me feel much better.

This big Edo-period Buddist temple is one of the newest sites in the area. The tiny Shinto shrine (which shelters a well) makes for an interesting contrast.

Chad attempted to confuse and annoy one of the tame deer which infest many Japanese sacred sites.