It is difficult to imagine that a place like Nara Park actually exists in today’s world. It is a fantasy land of ancient temples and beautiful lakes and gardens, a 1,500-acre oasis nestled inside a modern city where the only permanent residents are 1,200 wild deer that wander the streets and interact with their human visitors as if they were old friends. Visitors can wander through the park, and the deer will walk right beside you and allow you to pet them, or hand-feed them deer crackers available for sale on site. Some locals even say the deer will bow their heads to say thank you after you hand them a treat. Even more incredible in this age of the commercialism and monetization of all things beautiful or historical, as of this writing Nara Park charges no admission fee and is open to the public all day every day. It is truly a remarkable place and was one of our favorite stops on our trip to Japan.

Preserving the magical nature of this place requires us to be on our best behavior as tourists. Be respectful of these marvelous creatures and remember that they are wild deer, not domesticated pets. Please follow the guidelines below so that future generations can enjoy this amazing interaction with the natural world just as we do today. Please take all trash with you or dispose of it in approved containers to prevent the deer from mistaking it as food. Only feed the deer the deer crackers that are available for sale at the park. Do not make any sudden moves that may startle the deer. If one approaches you, stand still and allow it to pass. Stay away from fawns to prevent their mothers from attacking you or abandoning them. Treat these beautiful animals with common sense, kindness, and respect, and we guarantee that you will have an amazing day in Nara Park.

While the deer are a truly unique experience, they are not the only reason to visit Nara Park. The park is steeped in Japanese history, dating back over 1,300 years. Nara was the capital of Japan during the Nara period from 710 to 784 and the seat of the Emperor. Nara is home to eight major historic temples, shrines, and heritage sites, collectively known as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our visit we took a tour of the Todaiji Temple, the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan. Todaiji Temple was built in 752 and is one of Japan’s most sacred places. It is an amazing tribute to ancient architecture, whose central hall is still the world’s largest wooden structure. It also houses the famous Daibutsu, or giant Buddha, rumored to have been created through the efforts of 2.6 million people. It is an incredible sight to behold.