Final Field Program - University of Virginia

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Nijo Castle - A flatland castle which consists of two concentric rings of fortifications including the Ninomaru
Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several gardens. Important to visit are the
ornate interiors and the nightingale floors. The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square meters, of which 8,000
square meters are occupied by buildings.
Ryoan-ji - Built in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto, who was deputy to the Ashikaga shogun. Its world famous
Zen dry garden defies definitions. It is a riddle that can be unraveled only by silent contemplation. In 1994,
Ryoanji was among the cultural sites meeting the UNESCO World Heritage List qualifications, and was included
among the Ancient Kyoto Cultural Assets to be registered on the List.
Kinkaku-ji - Contains the famous Golden Pavilion (kinkaku) — actually a pagoda made to house the sacred relics
of the Buddha that has given this temple the popular name of Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion);
however, the official name of this branch temple of the Rinzai-sect Zen temple of Shokoku-ji is Rokuon-ji. The
fabled pavilion is located next to a pond that is surrounded by a strolling-type garden. Mount Kinugasa serves as
a backdrop to the garden. The harmonious interplay of the various components makes this place to be exquisite
and idyllic. The temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Please note: Boxed lunches will be provided from the ship.
KOB11 NARA (0800-1800 Saturday, 20 November) Minimum 35/Maximum (PRICE: $89)
[FDP: McLEOD]
Capital of Japan for a brief period (710-784 CE),
Nara was able to avoid the wars that destroyed many
other ancient capitals. Buddhism in Nara represents
an early, exuberant form of Buddhism, with rich
symbolism throughout the city. Your first stop,
Horyu-ji, is one of the most important temples in
Japanese history, art, and culture. The grounds
cover an area of 25 acres and contain 45 buildings,
all of which are designated either as National
Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Enjoy
lunch and a stroll through Nara Deer Park where the
well-known tame deer are found in large numbers.
Next, visit the most important temple in all of Nara, Todai-ji (Great Eastern Temple). The temple’s Daibut-su
(Hall of the Great Buddha) enshrines a huge bronze image of the Cosmic Buddha. Although Todai-ji has been
destroyed numerous times by fire, the present building dates from 1706 and is said to be the largest wooden
structure in the world. Proceed to Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine, which, according to Shinto concepts of purity,
was torn down and rebuilt every 20 years from 768 to 1863. Visual highlights are the spectacularly-colored
pillars and the 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. You may wish to visit the Treasure House (¥420 admission, at
your own expense) to see the shrine’s treasures, including armor, swords and Noh masks. (This trip includes
round-trip transportation by motorcoach, admission fees and services of an English-speaking guide. Box lunches
from the ship will be provided.)
Japan Field Program – page 5