Road bridge over Ara-ike Pond in Nara City

View in the west: five storied pagoda of Kofuku-ji beyond lush green of Chinese tallow trees and weeping willows

One of my favorite roads in Nara City, Japan, is a curving road bridge over Ara-ike Pond.  Suppose you visit Nara Park for the first time and you drive south this road, your expectation would be hightened to see the castle-like antique Nara Hotel in front or five-storied pagoda in the west.  

Do you spot road signs, "Watch out deer!"

The road is very nice for walking as a gateway to Nara Park.  You see the panoramic views from east to west over the road over the pond.　In the east side, you see the deep landscape framed by the lush green of summer along the pond: Mt. Kasuga behind Mt. Mikasa beyond Ara-ike Park and the pond.

Framed view in the east

Framed view in the west

Various trees line up on both side of the road including many numbers of cherry trees, Chinese Tallow trees, and so on, so you can see different colors in each season. In early April, the area is brightened up from pale wintry colors to pink by the blooms of cheery trees.

Winter

Early April

In autumn, especially fabulous colors of Chicness Tallow trees are eye-catching.

I love this curve.

The three photos below including this were used in Spectral Colors ofChinese Tallow Tree.



When you look down on the west bank of the pond, there are many young Chinese Tallow trees.  They shine in the late afternoon glow over the darkening water.

Now you are seeing my favorite road through the green curtain of weeping willows at Ara-ike Park as well as the roofs of Nara Hotel on the opposite side of the road.

Note: There is no such a place named Nara Park officially on the map.  Nara Park is a spacious area blessed with nature where  there are many historical and cultural assets, temples and shrines including World Heritage Sites,  parks, gardens, brooks, ponds, museumas, public offices,  about 1200 roaming wild but tame deer, and so on.  How about spending your whole day by exploring Nara Park on foot?   Deer will welcome you, bowing.  I bet you'll never get tired with new discoveries, wonder, and joy one after another.

This post is linked to Friday My Town Shoot Out

Thank you, Mersad, for hosting.