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Feed the Sika Deer at Nara Park
Published by Camilla Cheung, Writer
Country: Japan 
The Experience
The approach to Nara Park in the old capital city of Nara, Japan, is dominated by an imposing view of a wooden pagoda and beautiful tall trees. However, it is arguably the deer that make Japan's Nara Park as famous as it is. In fact, in many cases, Nara Park is known as “Deer Park” for the hundreds of so-called “wild” sika deer that roam the grounds. Although they are not raised by humans, the 1,200 sika deer within Nara Deer Park have grown so accustomed to tourists feeding them that they will boldly venture up to visitors, expecting pieces of rice crackers, sold at carts throughout Park for this purpose.
Nature-lovers from Western countries will undoubtedly deplore this interference with the natural habits of these wild animals. However, the Japanese attitude towards the sika deer, officially designated as “National Treasures,” is quite different. Parents encourage children to hand-feed the deer with the packages of rice crackers, despite warning signs cautioning that the Nara deer can be unpredictable. Throughout the grassy knolls of Nara Park, deer wander next to tourists, close enough to touch. They certainly are fascinating to watch, even if you disapprove of their treatment. You may catch a glimpse of a fawn struggling on its wobbly feet, or a pair of bucks butting heads. Everywhere you look, the grass of Nara Park is closely cropped by the grazing animals.
As with so many of Japan's fascinating historic sites, Nara's deer have a history closely bound up with Japan's mythology and folklore. According to the legend, a god descended to the earth riding a white deer, and from that moment, the deer were held to be sacred. In fact, killing one of the sacred deer was punishable by death at one time.
The Nara deer are almost enough to detract from the grandeur of the park grounds themselves, but if you tear your gaze from the cute animals long enough to take a look around, you'll see one of the most beautiful scenic attractions in Nara, Japan. The trees are ancient and tall, and towering above them are some of the most beautiful wooden structures in the world, including the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji, and the great wooden hall of Todai-ji, which houses a gigantic bronze Buddha, and is the largest wooden building in the world. These impressive structures nest harmoniously within the landscape, and are the most beautiful in the spring when plum and cherry trees bloom, or in the autumn with the changing colours of the leaves.
Nature-lovers from Western countries will undoubtedly deplore this interference with the natural habits of these wild animals. However, the Japanese attitude towards the sika deer, officially designated as “National Treasures,” is quite different. Parents encourage children to hand-feed the deer with the packages of rice crackers, despite warning signs cautioning that the Nara deer can be unpredictable. Throughout the grassy knolls of Nara Park, deer wander next to tourists, close enough to touch. They certainly are fascinating to watch, even if you disapprove of their treatment. You may catch a glimpse of a fawn struggling on its wobbly feet, or a pair of bucks butting heads. Everywhere you look, the grass of Nara Park is closely cropped by the grazing animals.
As with so many of Japan's fascinating historic sites, Nara's deer have a history closely bound up with Japan's mythology and folklore. According to the legend, a god descended to the earth riding a white deer, and from that moment, the deer were held to be sacred. In fact, killing one of the sacred deer was punishable by death at one time.
The Nara deer are almost enough to detract from the grandeur of the park grounds themselves, but if you tear your gaze from the cute animals long enough to take a look around, you'll see one of the most beautiful scenic attractions in Nara, Japan. The trees are ancient and tall, and towering above them are some of the most beautiful wooden structures in the world, including the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji, and the great wooden hall of Todai-ji, which houses a gigantic bronze Buddha, and is the largest wooden building in the world. These impressive structures nest harmoniously within the landscape, and are the most beautiful in the spring when plum and cherry trees bloom, or in the autumn with the changing colours of the leaves.
When to Go to Nara Park
You can easily access Nara Park via the JR train line, either from within Nara or as a very doable day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka. From the JR Nara Station, Nara Deer Park is a mere 15-minute walk eastwards. A circuit of the park will bring you to three of the prime tourist attractions in Nara: Todai-Ji (with the giant Buddha), Kofuku-ji (with the pagoda), and Kasuga Shrine, a Shinto shrine famous for its hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns. If you've had enough for the day, you can hop right back on the JR line back to Osaka or Kyoto, or stay longer in Nara if you like.
You can choose whether you want to feed the deer or not, and feeding them with the rice crackers provided is perfectly legal. Although dependence on human food makes animals less able to fend for themselves in the wild, these National Treasures are unlikely to be neglected in the future. You may find, however, that the deer can become aggressive if they think you have food.
Nara Park is beautiful any time of the year, although the spring brings with it the iconic Japanese cherry blossoms, and the colourful autumn leaves are certainly impressive.
You can choose whether you want to feed the deer or not, and feeding them with the rice crackers provided is perfectly legal. Although dependence on human food makes animals less able to fend for themselves in the wild, these National Treasures are unlikely to be neglected in the future. You may find, however, that the deer can become aggressive if they think you have food.
Nara Park is beautiful any time of the year, although the spring brings with it the iconic Japanese cherry blossoms, and the colourful autumn leaves are certainly impressive.
Odds n' Ends
Admission to Nara Park is free, although there are some fees charged to certain areas of the park, such as private gardens, and parts of the temples. For example, you'll have to pay an extra fee to enter the Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple.
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Classic Nara Hotel, 100 year old the Gande Dame offers you modern day comforts in an atmosphere of unhurried old charm and elegance. About a ... 1 miles away
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