Nara was the capital of Japan from year 710, then the capital was moved to Kyoto, and in 1868 it moved to Tokyo. Today we are visiting Nara, a very popular city for tourists from all over the world. Because of its history of course, but also for… other things.
There are many temples in the Nara Park, and many deer (about 1400) roaming the grounds. The deer are very friendly, and used to eat the crackers sold for tourists that want to feed them.
The deer are wild, but live close to man – and it is believed that a God came riding to Nara on a white deer, that’s why they are considered sacred and are to be treated thereafter.
Some deer also have learned to bow for you to get a cracker. I didn’t quite like that, but it was popular with the tourists.
They are Sika deer, and I prefer to see them ”free” and in their own families.
The Todaiji temple (738), where the Buddha Hall houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha. It’s been rebuilt twice after fires, and until 1998, it was the world’s largest wooden building. Impressive. And beautifully made.
We will take a closer look at it next time, and the park with its gardens too. I enjoyed meeting so many deer – they were clearly wild, but had to tolerate humans.
Leya 
We had to skip Nara on our visit (there was only time for Nara or Hiroshima and we chose the latter) – I would have loved to see these deer. And I’m looking forward to seeing more of your impressions from there 🙂
Sarah, of course you made the right decision on a tight schedule. We always have to leave out something. Yes, more will come from Nara.
Agree with you about the deer…
Enjoying this visit to Nara…. and looking forward to the next post. I must admit to a concern (unfounded or not) that the Deer interacting with people is not good for the Deer. But who am I to judge. Great pics
I agree with you – without judging. After all they are well treated and rather free. I don’t like it anyway.
This is a very interesting post and beautiful photos. I agree with you about seeing deer free. It is not a good thing to get them dependent on humans feeding them.
No it is not, even though I read the crackers are made from their ordinary food.
Interesting that they consider the deer sacred.
Yes, but they believe a God came riding on a white Sika.
I am hoping the crackers are made from deer foods not man made processed food.
Lovely photos. Bowing is a traditional Japanese thing so deer who bow are very polite 😁
I read that they are, Brian – but also found out that in the wild, the animals weigh almost the double…
That is amazing. Thank you for the information A-C
You are welcome.
Beautiful images Ann-Christine. I hope the deer don’t get sick from people feeding them crackers.
I read that the crackers are naturally made of what they normally would eat. But I also read that in the wild, they weigh almost the double as in the park…
😊
It’s a lovely place and an interesting phenomenon, but I, like you, prefer to see wild animals wild and free.
Yes. Free they were, maybe, but too ”domesticated”.