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What I was looking forward to most in Nara was Nara Park! As soon as I entered the park, I saw so many deer wandering around. Some were leisurely grazing, while others walked right up to visitors to ask for deer crackers. They weren't afraid of people at all.
Feeding the deer up close for the first time was both exciting and nerve-racking. As soon as I held out the deer crackers, I was surrounded. The deer also kept nodding their heads as if to say, “Give me another one!”
Nara Park is much bigger than I imagined, and once you enter, you can see deer everywhere. Some walk slowly along the roadside, some lie on the grass to rest, and others stand right next to visitors, as if they're already used to everyone coming to see them. The park has many tall trees and green lawns, along with old buildings and stone lanterns. It's very pleasant to walk around, and the whole atmosphere is relaxing.
When you visit Nara Park, you have to buy deer crackers to feed the deer. It's practically become a must-do activity. When you first get the crackers, you may think the deer are cute and gentle, but as soon as they notice you have food, they'll immediately come over. Some keep staring at you, while others may follow you, nudge you with their heads, or bite your clothes to hurry you into handing over the crackers.
Be a little careful when feeding them, because more and more deer may gather nearby, and before you know it, you can be surrounded. Although it can be startling when a deer suddenly approaches, it's still fun to watch them eat. When you're done, open your hands to show them there's no food left, and they'll usually slowly walk away.
Besides feeding the deer, it's also pleasant to stroll through the park and enjoy the scenery. Overall, Nara Park is a great place to explore at a leisurely pace, and it also lets you experience Nara's distinctive history and culture.
This vast open park is not only a free-roaming paradise for more than a thousand wild Nara deer, but is also surrounded by many world-class historical sites. As you stroll along the lush approach, you can encounter the clever deer at any moment. Buy a pack of special deer crackers, and you'll instantly become the most popular person around. Watching them politely bow while also seeming a little impatient as you feed them is truly both adorable and amusing.
Besides interacting with the deer, the area around the park is home to the magnificent Todaiji Temple, with its enormous Great Buddha, the mysterious Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and scenic Sarusawa Pond. Whether you're walking along stone lantern paths beneath towering ancient trees or sitting on the grass enjoying the sunshine, every corner is rich in culture and nature.
I highly recommend setting aside half a day to a full day for Nara Park when visiting Kansai. Whether you plan a relaxing walk or fully enjoy interacting with the deer, it will definitely leave you with soothing and wonderful memories of your trip!
The deer in Nara Park are just so adorable! As soon as you enter the park, you can see spotted deer leisurely strolling around, resting on the ground, and even confidently weaving through the crowds without being shy at all. There is a long-standing legend in Japan that deer are messengers sent by the gods to the human world. In Nara especially, deer are considered sacred, so they have always been respected and protected.
Of course, you can't miss feeding the deer while you're here. Vendors all around the park sell “deer crackers,” which are made especially for the deer, mainly from grains like rice bran and wheat flour, and have almost no flavor. But to the deer, they're a real treat! As soon as you have some crackers in your hand, several deer will come right over, and before you know it, you'll be surrounded.
When feeding them, don't chase after the deer. Stay calm and feed them slowly, one cracker at a time. When they're gone, remember to hold out both hands to let the deer know you have no more. It's best to hold the crackers up high; otherwise, when the deer get excited, your hands can easily end up covered in drool, and your clothes may not escape either. They may even give you a few little nips. It's really both adorable and awkward! The most interesting thing is that the deer bow. Bow to them, and they'll bow back〜
But animals are still wild, after all. If you're visiting with children, remember not to let them get too close, so they don't get hurt and everyone can have a safe and enjoyable time.
At Nara Park, what I looked forward to most was getting up close with the adorable deer! As soon as I took out the deer crackers, they immediately gathered around and kept nodding and bowing for food. They were so cute.
At first, I thought the deer were very gentle, but once they saw the crackers, they became incredibly eager. The crackers in my hand were gone in no time. Watching them eat and walk along with us was really fun and soothing.
As soon as I walked into Nara Park, before I even started exploring, I was already surrounded by deer. The moment you have deer crackers in your hand, they lock onto you right away. Some keep following you around and even gently nudge you to hurry up and feed them. I thought I was the one feeding the deer, but in the end, it was basically the deer chasing me.
It was a little chaotic, but so much fun. It’s definitely a classic Nara experience you have to try!
Honestly, Nara Park is super famous!
But it was kind of scary. Buying crackers to feed the deer is basically a must, but the pressure is intense.
They keep surrounding you, and it feels like they might jump on you at any moment.
Also, for some reason I thought there would be giant Buddhas all over Nara lol. Heiji was so cool in that Conan movie hahaha.
It was really funny seeing the deer bowing to people, and then so many people would bow back.
But honestly, I felt like there were almost as many people as deer.
That was actually kind of overwhelming. There were seriously tons of people.
Still, I feel like this is one of those places everyone adds to their itinerary when they go to Osaka.
So much fun! You can interact with the adorable deer and feed them!
If you feed the deer crackers, you’ll get surrounded—it’s kind of scary but also hilarious. Some of the deer are really gentle, and some have a ton of attitude. If you’re not paying attention, they’ll start nibbling on your clothes.
Being able to see the deer up close is such a wonderful feeling!
