I decided on a day trip from Osaka and it was going to be on a single sunny day in the forecast. For my trip, I was taking two trains, and heading out towards Nara. This ancient city is located between Osaka and Kyoto. Having fun at the Nara Deer Park was how I spent this morning away.
Getting There
A multitude of options is at your doorstep should you decide to leave the city for Nara. There are at least two main ways to get there via train, the JR Rail and the Kintensu Line. I chose the Kintensu line as it was easy to connect with via the metro in Osaka and its station is closer to the deer park and temples once you arrive in Nara.
For me the entire trip including walking was about an hour and 10 minutes. Quite easy to take the metro and connect at Ikoma Station. The trains are crowded initially but thin out as you progress towards Nara. I’m not familiar with taking trains/metro in any city, so it was a bit of a challenge for me to navigate the mostly Japanese language signs in the underground.
Nara Park
Once outside the station at Nara, you can simply walk straight forward down the main street and into the park. I did not walk for more than 10 minutes before I began to see the sika deer!
Most people will purchase the shika crackers for 200 yen to feed the deer. I did, and it was a very different experience than I had anticipated. 😂
The Deer
The Sika deer is actually quite an uncommon deer in most every other country where it naturally roams. It is only in Japan that they flourish and are in an abundant supply.
Here at Nara Park, I though the deer would be gentle and calm. Big mistake. I arrived early in the morning, well 9am, and can only assume the deer were hungry. 🤣 They were so darn aggressive! Biting, butting, and determined to grab those crackers out of my hands come hell or high water. 🫣😅😣
Now don’t get me wrong, they are cute as the dickens, but wow, I was shocked at how forceful they were towards me and everyone else around. My bundle of crackers was gone in seconds, literally. I struggled to even break them into smaller pieces, because they were being torn out of my hands as I walked.
Most of the deer have had their horns trimmed back, I only witnessed one with horns about 4” long. Not sure how he escaped the trimmer but they might provide a bruise or three to who ever is unlucky enough to have no cracker for him. 😯
Bowing
These deer have been taught/trained over decades, to bow to the visitors and in return, the visitor bows back and hands over the goods. Well, that’s the theory anyways. It is very sweet when you can witness it in action.
Have a go, bow back and say your ‘con-i-chi-wa’s’ to these cute little fuzzy brown sika deer. If you happen to have a hidden biscuit tucked away in your pocket, they will welcome the treat.
Park Grounds
There are thousands and thousands of deer. The further you travel into the park and up towards the temples, the more you will see. Once through the masses of people, you can find quiet little alcoves in the park, walk around ponds and through little groves.
These beautiful soft spaces are where you will find the deer in a more nature looking setting. These ones, are quite a bit shier and will bow, hoping to have a cracker extended towards them. Unfortunately, their unforgiving cousins, stole all the crackers I had. 🫣
Nara deer park is definitely a must visit if you have the time. I had the loveliest morning, wandering through the large green space, admiring the natural beauty and landscape. The deer were captivating and sweet to be around. Just be careful and watch yourself around the population that is at the entrance to the park. 🦌🦌🦌
