A POPULAR ATTRACTION
Have you heard of the unique deers of Nara in Japan?
An exciting attraction for animal lovers like myself, and a famous tourist destination in Japan, is the Nara Deer Park (Nara Kōen). A unique breed of deer roam freely around this vast historic parkland and parts of the city, amongst the people without any restrictions.
On my visit to Nara, by tour bus from Kyoto, I spent a few hours interacting with the deers of Nara, a very popular attraction and one of the main reasons people flock to the city, with about 1 million visiting each year.
The deer are a much-loved symbol of Nara’s culture and heritage, in one of the oldest parks in Japan.
Did you know Nara was Japan’s first capital city? Yes, from the year 710 to 794, known as the Nara era.
Wild Deer
The wild deer are Shika Deer, also known as the bowing deer of Nara, and there are over 1,000 of these animals wandering around the open park, roads and sidewalks. They have lived here for more than 1,300 years and coexist with humans.
According to Shinto tradition these sacred deer are believed to be ‘messengers of the Gods’ and are protected by the locals and the law. They are a genetically unique species dating from the Edo period of Japan (1603 – 1868) and as such have been kept separate from other types of deer to maintain their lineage.
Interacting With the Deer
You may notice the deer bowing their heads, thought to be their way of asking for food. Whether they have been trained to do this, I don’t know, but this quirky behaviour wins them a steady stream of food.
The deer are fed by visitors all day long, but only the deer biscuits sold by vendors at the park, which are made of rice bran. No other food is allowed to be given to the deers.
It is important to feed them quickly, and don’t tease them. They may try to nibble bags or clothing if they think they contain food. I had some of them follow me around and nudge me. The deer are mostly placid, so you can pat them, but be careful nonetheless, as the deer can become violent, especially the males.
The bucks’ antlers have been cut to protect people and other deer. The traditional antler cutting ceremony takes place each year in October.
The little fawns are especially cute with white marks on their soft fur.
Nara Park
Nara Park, where the deer roam, is the heart of the city and covers a whopping 660 hectares. The scenic expanse of greenery is a must-visit to enjoy the natural beauty and historic monuments of Nara.
The main attractions, other than the deers, include shrines and temples, Nara National Museum, gardens and forest walking trails and of course, the beautiful cherry blossom trees.
There are plenty of food kiosks and souvenir shops also.
Snazzy Info
- Nara Deer Park can be easily reached by train from Kyoto or Osaka, which makes it perfect for a day trip.
- Take a day tour from Kyoto or Osaka.
- Open every day.
- Free to enter and roam about.
- Deer snacks cost 150 Yen per pack.
- A few hours in the park is ample time to explore and mingle with the deer.
- Nara Kotsu bus service operates around the city of Nara.
- Nara travel website here.
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2 Comments
I didn’t know about this. Now I have to plan a visit. I see deer all the time where I live, but never been able to interact with them like this. They are beautiful creatures.
What a lovely sight! This reminded me of Ross Island in the Andamans I recently visited. The whole island literally belong to the deer.