Nara, Japan - What to see?

Judy wrote:
I'm going to Nara, Japan for a business trip, but will have a couple
of evenings and one full Saturday to look around. Given that
constrained time frame what are the must sees? Also, I'd appreciate
pointers to restaurants to try also.

TIA

Judy

We were in Nara in May, and found a very nice okonomiyaki restaurant,
Okaru. If you look at this site:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/PTG/pdf/pg-507.pdf
pg-507.pdf (application/pdf Object)

you will find it listed (number 6 in a black circle on the map). It is
in a covered arcade, with the entrance near the Kinetsu railway station.
If you enter at that end it is on the left. Look for a big tanuki
(the raccoon-dog with the hat and saki bottle) by the door. We didn't
have the JNTO hand-out, we just stumbled into the place. The food was
very good and the service was its equal. They cook the okonomiyaki for
you, it isn't a do-it-yourself place.

We visited the Todaiji Temple, which was awash in a sea of school
children, but very impressive. We also saw the Fujiwara family's Kasuga
Taisha shrine, with the rows of stone lanterns. The JNTO hand-out has a
lot of suggestions.

Cyril

Judy wrote:
I'm going to Nara, Japan for a business trip, but will have a couple
of evenings and one full Saturday to look around. Given that
constrained time frame what are the must sees? Also, I'd appreciate
pointers to restaurants to try also.

TIA

Judy

We were in Nara in May, and found a very nice okonomiyaki restaurant,
Okaru. If you look at this site:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/PTG/pdf/pg-507.pdf
pg-507.pdf (application/pdf Object)

you will find it listed (number 6 in a black circle on the map). It is
in a covered arcade, with the entrance near the Kinetsu railway station.
If you enter at that end it is on the left. Look for a big tanuki
(the raccoon-dog with the hat and saki bottle) by the door. We didn't
have the JNTO hand-out, we just stumbled into the place. The food was
very good and the service was its equal. They cook the okonomiyaki for
you, it isn't a do-it-yourself place.

We visited the Todaiji Temple, which was awash in a sea of school
children, but very impressive. We also saw the Fujiwara family's Kasuga
Taisha shrine, with the rows of stone lanterns. The JNTO hand-out has a
lot of suggestions.

Cyril