JPN: Nara Park
Nara, Japan
A public park located at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, Nara Park is a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness and enchanting wildlife. Established in 1880, the expansive park that sprawls over 500 hectares is renowned for its friendly inhabitants: over 1,200 free-roaming sika deer that's native to much of East Asia.
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JPN: Nara Park <YOU ARE HERE!>
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Once again, it's a pity that I don't get to populate this post with many photos. Before going to the deer, let's talk about the temples within the grounds of the park. Completed in the 740s, Todai-ji (lit. Eastern Great Temple) is a Buddhist temple complex that was once among the Seven Great Temples in Nara Prefecture. Its Great Buddha Hall houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. Our family we-fie below is taken in front of one of the gates.
Kofuku-ji (lit. Temple of Happiness) was established in 710. It used to be the family temple of the Fujiwara, the most powerful aristocratic clan during the period. Soaring at a height of 50 m, the five-storied pagoda is Japan's second tallest wooden pagoda.
According to Shinto lore, the deer of Nara hold a sacred significance as the messengers of the gods. In ancient times, killing a deer was a crime punishable by death.
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| In an annual tradition held every October, adult bucks undergo the removal of their antlers. |
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| "The sun is too bright!" |
You can feed the deer with shika senbei (lit. deer cracker), made of rice bran and grain, that are sold at stalls within the park. The wrapping paper is also edible for them. I'm not sure if a stack still costs ¥200 (~S$1.80) now.
As you approach the deer with the crackers in hand, they display a captivating gesture of politeness, bowing their heads in eager anticipation. Be careful, however, that some impatient deer may give you a head-butt if the treat isn't promptly offered to them.
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| "Can I touch your head?" |
If you're interested to learn more about the deer, you may want to visit Roku-en, an enclosure for the deer located to the south of the stone lantern-lined path leading to Kasuga Taisha.
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