Nara Park Revisited 2019 - Nara

The last time we visited Nara Park (奈良公園) was on the 16th day of our 2014-2015 Japan trip. That was also our first time to see this world-famous park with our own eyes.

Nara Park has plenty of free-roaming Sika deer
Nara Park (奈良公園)

For those who are not familiar with Nara Park, it is home to hundreds of free-roaming Sika deer. This 502-hectare  park also includes the grounds of temples and shrines which are popular tourist destinations themselves like Todaiji, Kohfukuji, and Kasuga Shrine (some of which we also visited). 

Our photos in Nara Park:






Although the deer of Nara Park are mostly friendly, you still have to be extremely careful

Check out the road going to Nara Park

 Nara Park is located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa. It was established in 1880, making it one of the oldest parks in Japan. Aside from that, Nara Park is also designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Science and Technology (MEXT) as one one of Japan's "Places of Scenic Beauty". The hundreds of free-roaming wild Sika deer, on the other hand, are classified by MEXT as Natural Treasures.

Nara Park Admission Fee

Surprise, surprise! Nara Park is FREE to explore. However, if you want to be mobbed by the deer, you can buy a pack of 10 pieces Shika Senbei crackers for 150 yen. 

Photos of Team Nicerio in Nara Park:










My wife, daughter, and I got to revisit Nara Park during the 3rd day of our 2019 Japan trip. What made this trip special was the fact that my parents and siblings were with us this time. Aside from that, this trip was also our first out of the country trip together. During this visit, we got to explore several areas of Nara Park that we missed out on during our first visits like Kohfukuji and the Nara National Museum grounds. Aside from those, we also got to revisit Todaiji which you'd get to read about in the next article. 

Check out this 4-second video of the bowing deer:

Nara Park Opening Hours:

Nara Park is open 24 hours every day. Yay!

Why Visit Nara Park?

A visit to Nara City would never be complete without visiting Nara Park. The park has always been synonymous with Nara Park tourism. It is a place to visit if you are fond of seeing wild deer roam freely among crowds of people. It's also a place where several tourist destinations in Nara are located like Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha.

Getting to Nara Park:


From the JR Nara Station, Nara Park is about 20 minutes away by foot and only a few minutes away by bus. If you're planning to take a bus, ride the bus heading to Kasuga Taisha. There are plenty of bus stops around Nara Park so you won't have to worry.

 On the other hand, if you are coming in from Kintetsu Nara Station, Nara Park is about 5 minutes away on foot. 

Ratings:
Crowd
Cleanliness

Overall ratings
Location: Nara Park, Nara, Japan

Comments

  1. ReneeJune 5, 2020 at 2:44 AM

    My kids would love to go here and engage in the petting zoo! What an awesome experience

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 5, 2020 at 7:36 AM

      True. Although it's one big "petting zoo", Nara Park is actually some sort of wildlife sanctuary.

      Delete
  2. Brooke rJune 5, 2020 at 2:59 AM

    What a great free place to visit on your trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 5, 2020 at 7:37 AM

      Cool. Looking forward to your visit to Nara Park. :)

      Delete
  3. PhilomathJune 5, 2020 at 3:28 PM

    This is interesting place. I like the people with costume picture haha. I would love to visit it when I go there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 10:36 PM

      Hahaha those guys were there for fun. We were just lucky to have our visit coincide with them. Please do visit Nara Park someday. :)

      Delete
  4. AlyssaJune 5, 2020 at 6:36 PM

    We've recently been to Nara Park too and it was such an incredible place! It's a sanctuary for animals and the Japanese are taking care of the animals well. Can't wait to visit Japan again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 10:36 PM

      Looking forward to your visit to Nara Park Alyssa. :)

      Delete
    2. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 10:36 PM

      Looking forward to your visit to Nara Park Alyssa. :)

      Delete
  5. One and Half backpacksJune 5, 2020 at 7:46 PM

    I visited the park two years ago, what a great place to spend afternoon :) One and Half Backpacks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Karen at My Path To TravelJune 5, 2020 at 8:57 PM

    It looks like a lovely place Neil, and great photos

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jeanie {CoffeeGirl.BlogJune 5, 2020 at 10:03 PM

    Thank you for sharing your insight and knowledge on this incredible place.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sumit waliaJune 6, 2020 at 12:10 AM

    Nara city looks super awesome, especially the mascot Nara. The manhole cover design was so thoughtful of them.Todaji temples looked terrific and did not know that it was the largest wooden structure in the world. You had a fantastic visit it looks like

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 8:09 PM

      Yes we had an awesome visit. You should come visit Nara City after this pandemic. :)

      Delete
  9. Cyndi BuchananJune 6, 2020 at 12:35 AM

    We have a park like this similar to us. My kids love getting to pet the animals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 8:08 PM

      Oh really? Where is this? I would love to visit it someday :)

      Delete
  10. Tracy @ Cleland ClanJune 6, 2020 at 3:05 AM

    I can't believe how tame the deer are. This would be a great place to take kids and teens.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 6, 2020 at 11:26 AM

      It sure is Tracy! We've visited Nara Park twice and my daughter still enjoys it. =)

      Delete
  11. Lavern MooreJune 6, 2020 at 5:41 PM

    You are so lucky. I would love to visit Nara! Yet, your review and pics make me feel like I’m already there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 7:58 PM

      Please do visit Nara Park when everything goes back to normal. :)

      Delete
  12. Daddy J-IJune 6, 2020 at 10:05 PM

    we visited Nara park last december 2018 and we fell in love immediately with the winter season plus the atmosphere and the deers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 8:02 PM

      That's amazing. :) I can't wait to revisit the park. :) I hope they find the cure to Covid already.

      Delete
  13. NotesbycheeiaJune 7, 2020 at 1:16 PM

    I love petting zoos! So cool that you were able to get right up to the animals!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 8:03 PM

      Oh Nara Park is not a petting zoo. The deer are actually free roaming. :)

      Delete
  14. aisasamiJune 7, 2020 at 8:39 PM

    I went there last year with my sister and just stayed across the street as my sister fed the deer. Scared of them/.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 10, 2020 at 8:04 PM

      Hahahaha. That's OK the deer sometimes attack if provoked. They actually see fear in your soul. Haha

      Delete
  15. Our Redonkulous LifeJune 7, 2020 at 11:13 PM

    I would love to go there. It looks so cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 8, 2020 at 2:48 PM

      Please do come visit Nara Park after this pandemic! =)

      Delete
  16. Blair VillanuevaJune 8, 2020 at 7:35 AM

    Are the deers missing their human friends at this pandemic times? I would love to visit them soon hopefully next year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioJune 8, 2020 at 2:51 PM

      Super! There are news that the deer now go as far as JR Nara Station to look for tourists who would give them food. Poor guys.

      Delete
  17. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2024 at 9:06 AM

    Beautiful! I have never been to Nara City yet. I should have included it when my boyfriend and I visited last year.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2024 at 2:13 PM

    Beautiful creatures. Thanks for sharing about Nara Park, Neil.

    ReplyDelete

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