Nara Park Do’s & Don’ts: What to expect
I see a lot of content going around on social media about the bowing deer of Nara. Going to Nara Park is indeed an unforgettable experience but I don’t think enough attention is given to the actual do’s and don’ts of visiting.
The sika deer of Nara Park are beautiful and curious creatures and however approachable they may be, they still are wild animals. Although the deer are generally not aggressive, incidents do occur.
These are my top tips for avoiding unpleasant encounters whilst taking amazing pictures!
Do Buy Crackers at the Park Entrance
If you want to feed the deer you can purchase special deer crackers at the park entrance for ¥200 (+/- €1.20/$1.29) per pack that you can safely feed them. I didn’t see any other vendors further down the actual park itself so I recommended getting as much crackers as you think you’ll need during your visit and keeping them in your bag/pocket.
Don’t Carry Crackers Visibly
Buy your deer crackers and immediately put them in your bag or pocket. Keep them out of sight until you’ve left the large crowds of deer and people behind. Take the crackers out one by one when you spot a deer you want to feed it to. This way you avoid drawing too much attention and alerting all the deer in the vicinity to come chase you.
Make sure you don’t feed them anything else besides the crackers. Also, as with anywhere in Japan, if you have litter don’t leave it around and if you take a leaflet, keep an eye on it. I’ve seen a deer stubbornly munch on a paper leaflet until there was no trace left of it.
Bonus tip: If you do aggressively get followed around by a persistent (herd of) deer show your empty palms. This usually does the trick in the deer leaving you alone and will fool them even if you do carry crackers somewhere on you.
Don’t Linger Too Long at the Park Entrance
I know it can be very exciting when you first spot the many deer roaming around the edge of the park. However it’s easier to get ambushed by a herd of hungry deer at the entrance because there are so many of them concentrated in one place.
You’ll also be among droves of other tourists, making it hard get nice pictures. If you want to enjoy your interactions with a little bit of peace and get some interesting shots it’s best to move further down the park as soon as possible. The deeper you head into the park, the more tranquil the atmosphere and the better the scenery will be. And don’t worry, you’ll still run into more than enough deer on your way.
Don’t approach the male deer
When you encounter male deer try to keep your distance. The adult males can be very feisty especially around mating season and are capable of biting, kicking or knocking you down if they perceive you as a threat. Even the younger ones can be quite cheeky and may become very pushy when you’re attempting to feed them.
I’ve had young male deer pull and bite my clothes in order to get my attention and feed them, while I’ve seen them push other people. I have never seen any female deer showcase this kind of behaviour so I would recommend to only engage with the females and to ignore the males as much as possible just to be on the safe side.
Do Visit the Temples and Shrines
Nara Park is a big place. As you move further along the park you’ll find several beautiful temples and shrines. The deer will still be roaming around in other areas, just in smaller groups or by themselves. My favourite stop in the park was the Kusaga Shrine.
Do Enjoy the Magic (Responsibly)
When you encounter a deer and you bow to them they will lower their head as well and bow back at you in hopes of getting a treat.
Though most deer do also allow you to touch them just be mindful when doing so. I suggest refraining from touching or getting too close to the baby deer. Otherwise use common sense and remember that they are still wild animals after all.
You won’t ever come as close to wild deer as you will in Nara Park, let alone getting these beautiful creatures to perform the endearing act of taking a bow. So enjoy the magic and don’t forget to take lot’s of photo’s!
FAQ’s about Nara Deer Park
Is there an entry fee for Nara Deer Park?
There is no entry fee to visit the deer in Nara Park. The park is accessible 24 hours without having to pay an entrance fee. If you want to feed the deer however you will have to purchase special deer crackers at the park entrance at ¥200 (+/- €1.20/$1.29) per pack. Also, most of the temples
How many wild deer live in Nara Park?
According to Nara Tourism Bureau’s website almost 1200 wild sika deer roam Nara Park. The y have become a symbol of the city and going back in history the deer were considered sacred. Until 1637 killing one was punishable by death. Though the deer are no longer considered sacred, they are still protected.
