Our stay in Nara was, well, nearly perfect.  Yesterday, we did not see a cloud, so the sunlight enhanced the oranges and reds.  Today, it was cloudy all day, on our train rides from Nara to Kyoto to Shin-Yokohama to Yokohama Station.  But about Nara, we did not expect much, but it was the highlight of our Fall Colors visit.  While the cruise was fine, Hokkaido was a disappointment, which largely carried through in Tokyo and Nagoya.  Then everything got better and better. Need to show a couple more photos I missed enclosing yesterday.  First, we saw a persimmon tree where you couldn't count the number of fruits.  What is your estimate? That was in Nara Park.  Secondly, Nara has all that history and religiosity, but is today mostly a sprawling city.  While Nara Park is truly a national treasure, the city itself is nicely symbolized with this photo. You say, why?  See the middle of the above photo?  Then target that religious middle. I...

  Nara is the   birthplace of Japan .  Want details about this spiritual city?  Click on   THIS . A train on the JR Nara Line leaves Kyoto around every 10 minutes for Nara on a 50-minute trip that is 23 miles away.  You would think there would be mountains, forests and bamboo patches between the two cities.  Nope.....homes all the way in between.   Japan is so populated.  Yet it is dropping in population.  Now at 126 million, Japan is predicted to have only 87 million people in 2070...unless it does something drastic. So we left Kyoto Station. Easy ride to Nara, where we caught a cab to the J.W. Marriott.  Turned out that we could have saved $8, for there is a shuttle pick-up at the station every half an hour.  Check-in is not standing in line, but instead by sitting down and being given a hot towel and served drinks.  After a long while, they finally pass on your room key, and you meet your luggage there. The usual C...