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one of the red gates in Nara Park

Nara Deer Park


Nara Deer Park is based in the city of Nara, in Japan, and is officially about 1,240 acres of woods and temple grounds. The park itself is inhabited by sika deer, who roam freely and are also classified as national treasures. Throughout the park are several temples and shrines, among them Todai-ji, known for being the largest wooden building in the world. If you want to explore more about the park, there are also tours you can book that are listed on TripAdvisor, although most of the park is fully open to the public.


There have been cases of tourists being injured by the deer, mostly in cases where the instructions around feeding deer were not followed. Since then there have been more signs added, explaining the hand motions deer are expecting to see, when someone is indicating if they do or do not have food. When we visited, even without knowing much about this, we saw signs and made note of their advice. We didn't run into any problems, but did step in a few times to help other people who had somehow missed the same instructions. The deer were very friendly, and not afraid of people at all, so they would approach you fairly boldly and you would need to hold up your hands, palms clearly empty, to let them know there were not tasty crackers.


A map in a train station, in Nara Japan. Nara, Japan, as seen when leaving the Japan Rail Nara station. A coffee that quickly became a favorite. Two pig planters on a doorstep in Nara, Japan. A complimentary mask from the hotel we stayed at in Nara, Japan. A view of an entrance to Higashimuki Shopping Street, which was next to the Deer Park. A fountain and statue of Gyōki, a Buddhist priest during the mid-700s in Nara, Japan. A section of Higashimuki Shopping Street, at night. John has a friendly meeting with Gyōki. A musician next to the fountain and statue of Gyōki. The outside of the Yamato Craft Beer restaurant. Crisped udon noodles on a table at the Yamato Brewery. Yamato's daily beer tap list. Drinks in glass mugs at the Yamato Brewery in Nara, Japan. Wagyu roast beef (this was ¥ 980- and utterly delicious, we ordered two.) Wakakusayama Volcano Potato Salad A smoked salmon and cream cheese pizza. Coffees at the McDonalds in Nara, Japan. A painting of a cherry blossom, in the McDonald's on Higashimuki Shopping St. A fish sandwich at the McDonald's on Higashimuki Shopping St. A painting of a temple at the McDonald's on Higashimuki Shopping St. A painting of two deer inside the McDonald's on Higashimuki Shopping St. Interior of the McDonalds in Nara, Japan. A deer-themed gashapon machine. A sign for a cat-themed store Stairs leading to a shopping area. A sticker of a cat, dressed as a deer. Pokemon-themed donuts in a shop outside Deer Park in Nara, Japan. A row of stone lanterns. A deer on top of a small stone shrine. A deer and a small kid looking at each other. Stone lanterns line a stairway in the forest. Large tree in the interior of the Kasuga-taisha shrine. Deer and people together in the park in Nara, Japan. A man introduces his kid to a friendly deer. A woman feeding a deer in the park in Nara. A walkway along the edge of Deer Park in Nara. Crowds at an intersection at Deer Park in Nara. A man feeds a deer at the park. A map of Nara's Deer Park, showing the location of parking and shrines. People feeding deer in the park in Nara. Two wild deer in a park. People feeding and taking pictures with deer. A deer and people near a food stall along a walkway in the Deer Park. John feeds an enterprising deer who put himself in the way of people walking by. The view walking to Deer Park with the mountains in the distance. A deer steps forward to see if food is available. Stone lanterns along a pathway in Nara's Deer Park in Japan. Two deer eat a snack left behind. Signs giving directions and information for one of the park's many shrines. Early fall leaves in sunlight. Important instructions for visitors to Deer Park on the expected ettiquette for feeding deer. A patch of bright red leaves on a tree above a walkway in Deer Park. Bright fall leaves against an afternoon sky. A view into the woods of deer park. A stall that sells food for deer, surrounded by interested parties. A deer food stall along the side of one of the park's trails. John holds up his hands to show a deer he has no food to give them. A park restroom and shrine. Stone lanterns along a park walkway, with moss growing on their heads. A wooden trellis over a park path. A deer poses in front of a red gate. Park gardeners make their rounds. John and a friend take pictures of a friendly deer. A deer considers what flavor of soft serve it wants. A building n the park with stacked boxes. A stone lion oversees part of the park's walkway. A split in the park's walkways, leading to different areas. Deer standing between two rows of stone lanterns. Park-themed gashapon machines. Stone steps leading up to one of the park's temples. People walking up sone steps and a stranger with a nice smile. Part of a shrine, visible through trees. The south gate entrance of Kasuga-taisha shrine. A canopy of trees in Nara's Deer Park. People near the South Gate of Kasuga-taisha shrine. Several stone lanterns along the stairs leading to a shrine. A map of the shrine and surrounding areas. A sign inside the shrine discussing some of the history. People gathered inside a courtyard of the shrine. A tree grown into a lattice bamboo structure in a shrine courtyard. A sign giving information about the Japanese wisteria growing in the shrine courtyard. A close-up of the wisteria. A sign encouraging people to not leave trash for deer to eat. Trees around the shrine, against a blue sky. Messages left by visitors to the shrine. Paper charms left by visitors to the shrine. A bright red tree in one of the shrine's courtyards. A deer naps near the road in Nara's Deer Park. A lady in a lovely cloak feeds some deer. John meets a deer in Nara's Deer Park. Stone lanterns below a tree branch. Deer-themed gashapon machines. Small glass deer figures on keychains. Ceramic deer figures in a shop. Items in a souvenior shop in Deer Park, Nara. Figurines in a display case in a shop. Cat figurines in a gift shop in Nara Deer Park. Cat figurines in a display case. Pipes in a display case in Deer Park, Nara. Masks and a tapestry on a shop wall. A deer skull on the wall at the rear of a shop. Ceramic cat figurines in a display case. Deer figurines on top of a display case. Snoopy charms, in deer outfits. Hello Kitty stationary and charms in a shop. Stone lanterns with moss and leaves growing out of them. A deer waiting for snacks along the walkways in Deer Park, Nara, Japan. A statue with deer antlers. A brochure for Deer Park, in Nara, Japan. A stone lantern in the courtyard of a shrine. A sign in Japanese in the courtyard of a shrine. Metal lanterns hanging along a walkway in a shrine. People walk along a path inside the outer wall of the shrine. Metal lanterns hang in front of a garden in a shrine courtyard. Metal lanterns line a path through part of a shrine. Stone and moss lanterns in Deer Park in Nara. Part of the wall and roof in a shrine in Deer Park. Metal lanterns line a walkway in a shrine. A close up of a metal lantern. Each one in the shrine is handmade and unique. A metal lantern with delicate etchings. A sign reviewing the rules for visiting the shrine. An offering area before one of the red gates. A wasp sunning on one of the rails. A sign providing information about the cedar tree in the shrine's courtyard. An upwards view of the cedar tree in the courtyard. The side of one of the shrine's buildings. A small shrine in one area of the larger courtyard. Fall leaves on stone steps in the shrine courtyard. A metal lantern hanging along one of the walkways of the shrine. Berries and part of a shrine fence. Leaves growing on a tree in one area of the shrine. A small gulley along one of the pathways in the shrine. Leaves in a small gulley in the shrine courtyard. John walks along one of the shrine's inner walls An up-shot of the cedar tree in the main courtyard. If you are going to find a legendary grass pokemon, it would be in the roots of a 1000+ Japanese cedar tree. A leaf on the stone walkway in the shrine. Metal lanterns along the outer walls of a shrine. One corner of a larger shrine in Deer Park, Nara. The woods behind a shrine in Deer Park, Nara. Metal lanterns line a walkway in a shrine. People gathering to enter part of a shrine in Deer Park, Nara. Metal lanterns in Deer Park, Nara. Signs in one part of the shrine in Deer Park, Nara. A private courtyard in the larger shrine area. A sign asking for visitors to not touch the lanterns and fence. A lit lantern hanging in a curtained area. Metal lanterns hanging in a walkway underneath part of a shrine. A row of lit lanterns hung underneath part of a large shrine. A view of the entrance where people come and go through a darker area, showing some of the lanterns. A close-up of some of the lanterns. A sign providing information about one of the Cultural areas in the shrine. A man checks his phone near a small shrine in Deer Park, Nara. A paper hanging decoration on a shrine wall. A drum on display in a room with tatami mats. John takes a small phone break while I catch up (I was taking so many pictures)/. A sign for one of the shrines in Deer Park. A basin of water outside one of the park's shrines. A man takes a picture of one of the small shrines. A shrine with grass growing out of the top. A pool of water and leaves along one of the park's paths. A shrine with a bell-pull. A stone pathway leading further into the woods of the park. Indents in the stone steps. A fallen tree, covered in moss and new growth. A pathway through the forest in Deer Park, Nara. A tree stump that also looked like some kind of curious goblin. Deer near a stream in Deer Park, Nara. A man forgets how to signal he has no food left, gets a curious nibble. A statue outside Todaji temple. A woman steps over one of the entryways to Todaiji. Another statue along the entryway to Todaiji A child feeds a deer in Deer Park, Nara. A child carefully says hello to a deer. A statue seen through protective bars, outside Todaiji. A sign, naming two statues guarding one of the entrances to Todaiji. The companion statue, also behind protective bars. A lantern on a post outside Todaiji. A child skips along the outer temple walkway at Todaiji. A painting on the wall surrounding Todaiji. A water feature along the main walkway to Todaiji. A banner along the main entrance to Todaiji. A second banner in the breeze outside Todaiji People gathered at the main doors to enter Todaiji. A drawer for incense to light when entering. People at the temple lighting incense. John and I lighting our own sticks. A gong inside Todaiji. A sign describing part of the giant structures inside Todaiji. Part of the "lotus" structure described. A metal butterfly on part of the structure. The left-hand Buddha statue within Todaiji. Front view of the left-side Buddha statue. A stairway leading up to the rafters of the temple. One of the statues inside Todaiji. A donation box for Notre-Dame, inside Todaiji. A person crawling through a hole in one of the temple's support columns. This is apparently done for good luck. "Tamonten" who is Guardian of the North, inside Todaiji. The right-hand statue of Buddha, flanking the main statue. A statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, who is the embodiment of the Bodhisattva Vow, the aspiration to save all beings from suffering. The view of the main entrance to Todaiji, looking back towards the exit. A bronze lantern tower, from the 8th century, outside Todaiji. Fall leaves at sunset in a garden outside Todaiji. Stone lanterns along a pathway in Deer Park. A kid and a deer get ready to pose for pictures. Walking down stone steps in Deer Park. Stone steps lined with lanterns in Deer Park, Nara. Stone steps leading up to a gate and forest area. Part of a shrine that is closed off. Part of a building, open to the forest in Deer Park. Stone lanterns line walkways behind a shrine in Deer Park. A metal dragon provides water to visitors. A sign explaining how to use one of the areas in the shrine. A rear path through some of the woods behind one of the main shrines. John catching me taking pictures as I walk slower than him through the park. A path through one of the quieter parts of the forest in Deer Park. The back of a house, with a pond and trees, in Deer Park. Fall trees catching early sunset light. Deer wait to be fed by visitors along the paths in Deer Park. One of the gates to walk through on the way to Todaiji. Walking along the path to Todaiji. A man takes a picture of a deer near a lake in Deer Park. People walking around outside one of the gates in front of Todaiji. A view of Todaiji from the outer walls. Todaiji and the yard around it. People walking up to Todaiji. A front view of Todaiji. A place for visitors to wash their hands before entering. On the steps of Todaiji, looking back. Burnt incense sticks in the sand. The bronze statue of the Great Buddha, which stands about 49 feet tall and weighs 500 tons. Rear view of the Great Buddha statue, notice the people walking near the base. A minature structure of the Todaiji complex. A sign asking for support for the Todaiji Temple Welfare Fund. Part of the outer wall structure around Todaiji. The front entrance of Todaiji in early sunset light. A small pond in the lawn in front of Todaiji. A large, red gate in the forests of Deer Park. A small lake at sunset in Deer Park, Nara. Part of the outer structure surrounding Todaiji. The edge of a small lake outside Todaiji in Deer Park. Fall leaves lit by setting sunlight. Deer in the park being fed by visitors. A bright red tree on a small island near Todaiji. A stained glass window in Nara, Japan.