Located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture in Japan, Nara Park (奈良公園 Nara Kōen)is a public park popular for the hundreds of free-roaming wild sika deer.
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| Nara Park |
Nara Park history
Nara Park was established in 1880. It is designated as one of the "Places of Scenic Beauty" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
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| Nara Park - Nara City, Nara Prefecture |
The official area of Nara Park is about 502 hectares but some say it's bigger than that. The park includes the World Heritage temples and shrines like Tōdaiji, Kōfukuji, and Kasuga Shrine. You could also find the Nara National Museum in the park.
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| Some deer-free zone of the park |
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| These are the first deer that we saw during our visit. |
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| Hey, bro got some crackers? |
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| Aww so sweet! |
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| Me: Smile! Deer: No! |
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| Map of Nara Park |
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| The deer crowd even Nandaimon of Todaiji |
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| So cute! |
Going back to what makes the park unique -the deer... Many people tend to ask why there are so many of them and why they are allowed to roam freely? Well, according to local folklore, the sika deer in Nara Park and surrounding areas are sacred animals. It all started when one of the four gods of Kasuga Shrine, Takemikakazuchi-ni-mikoto was invited to visit the place. It was said that he appeared on Mt. Mikasa riding a white deer. Since then the deer in that area were considered divine and sacred. Killing one of these animals is punishable by death. The last recorded incident when a person was punished for killing one of these sacred creatures was in 1637.
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| Daddy help! |
We visited Nara Park on the 16th day of our 2014-2015 Japan trip. My wife and daughter (including me of course) enjoyed feeding the deer some shika-senbei or deer crackers which you could purchase in stores in some parts of the park. It is funny how the deer would approach you once they see you holding the crackers. If you try to hide the crackers the deer would bow down as if begging its master.
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| Team Nicerio visits Nara Park |
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| Deer Cookies - Nara Deer approved! |
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| Deer poop! Really?! |
Aside from seeing and interacting with Nara's famed deer, we also enjoyed our visit to Japan's largest wooden temple - Tōdaiji but that is another story. Nara Park Entrance Fee
It's FREE to enter and explore the vast Nara Park.
Nara Park Operating Hours
Nara Park is open 24/7.
Why visit Nara Park?
Nara Park is not just any ordinary park, it has plenty of unique things to offer that you won't normally see in other parks. The most famous of these is the friendly wild deer. It's free to interact, feed, and pet (if you dare) the wild deer in Nara Park. If you're not into that, then visit the nearby World Heritage Sites inside the Nara Park like Todaiji and Kofukuji.
Getting to Nara Park:
From Kansai Airport, you can ride a limousine bus which will bring you to JR Nara Station. from there you could walk going to the park.
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| Follow the expressway to Nara Prefecture |
Another way to reach the park from the airport is by riding the JR Kansaikuko Line from Kansaikuko Station to Tennoji Station then transfer to the Yamatoji Line (Rapid Service) and get off at JR Nara Station.
You could also ride the Nankai Line (Rapito Service) from Kansaikuko Station to Namba Station then change to the Kintetsu Nara Line (Limited Service) and get off at Nara Station.
Ratings:
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this is so wonderful ,i think a situation where the animals can mingle with mankind in a controlled environment is a great step forward in thinking ,
ReplyDeletethanks for the article and sharing
You're welcome sumit. =) Japan also has a rabbit island which is worth visiting.
DeleteSo sweet. Children will go crezy with all those deers. p.s. I would love to drive though the Japanese highway just to see those boardsigns... So cute!
ReplyDeleteHahaha. That was a first... I never knew boardsigns are cute. =P
DeleteInteresting park. Glad you and family had fun. I noticed that the deer had no horns. Are they removed for visitors' safety ? Why do they sell deer poop ? Any significance to that ?
ReplyDeleteYes they remove the horns for safety and also to sell them as souvenirs. The deer poop are actually biscuit-like food which is edible. They are riding the deer hype.
DeleteNara Park is such a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for the detailed informative article on it.
ReplyDeleteThis place is now in my bucket list. :)
Thank you for visiting my blog. =)
DeleteI am so sad that I wasn't able to visit this in Japan. My fellow bloggers who extended their stay did. I remember feeling sorry for myself that I couldn't extend because I had to go back to work. Would have been amazing to hang out with the deers up close.
ReplyDeleteWhen you revisit Japan, try to visit Okunushima also. I bet you'd love it.
DeleteOkunushima for those who does not know is Rabbit Island.
Wow, just like you, I also love ambling around the Park. I haven't heard about Nara Park and it is amazing. The deer looks so adorable and seemed to be really friendly. I haven't seen a deer in my entire life, I hope to see one soon. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog Laiariel. You should try visiting this place when you go to Japan. You'd surely love interacting with these creatures. Careful though some of them have temper too.
DeleteI love Nara Park. The deer are very interesting part of my visit (and others' visit for sure). I'm glad you figured out how to get there. I couldn't remember how I got there because my friend drove. But yeah, after Nara Park I also went to thE Todaiji temple.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica, thanks to the efficient train system of Japan, Nara is just a stone throw away from Kansai International Airport. The experience here is truly amazing indeed. =) Hope to see your adventures in Japan. =)
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