With kids
Nara Park
Nara Park is a large, open historic park around Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and Kofuku-ji, home to about 1,700 wild deer, which are a protected natural monument. Children love buying deer crackers and watching the deer bow for them.
The deer are used to people but they are still wild animals. Stay close to young children, hand crackers over promptly, and give the deer room, and it can be one of the most memorable days of a Japan trip.
What to see and do
Official shika senbei are sold around the park at ¥200 for a bundle of 10. They contain only rice bran and wheat flour, with no sugar or salt.
Deer can be found across the park east of Kofuku-ji during the day, including around Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the Nara National Museum.
On set dates a natural horn calls the deer across Tobihino field at Kasuga Taisha. Free sessions need no booking, such as Sundays in summer and early September, 1–14 December and winter Sundays and holidays.
The park links major World Heritage temples and shrines with open lawns, so it is easy to mix sightseeing with a run-around.
Good to know
- Give crackers one at a time and quickly: teasing the deer or pretending to have food can make them agitated. The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation warns that children are at deer head height, so the risk of charges and head-butts is higher. Keep little ones beside you, and show open hands when the crackers are gone.
- In autumn the males are in rut and the foundation issues extra warnings, so keep your distance from stags. The park has no rubbish bins, so bring a bag and take your trash home, because deer that eat litter can get sick.