Some things you can only find in Japan, and one of the most famous of these is the bowing deer of Nara! Nara is a small town located halfway between Kyoto and Osaka in the Kansai region. You can visit on a half-day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka and have plenty of time to see the highlight here: Nara’s famous bowing deer.
At Nara Deer Park, there are hundreds of free-roaming small deer that wander the grass, sleep under the trees, and curiously follow the tourists. Because of the kind treatment that they have received over the years, the deer are very friendly and cute, not afraid of humans at all. They will walk straight up to you or lie down and allow you to pet their soft coats without being skittish. I adore them.
The undeniable charm and friendliness of the deer make this encounter one of the most remarkable experiences you can have in Japan, and the best part? It won’t break the bank! For almost no cost, you can witness firsthand the endearing bows and curious gazes of these majestic creatures. Take your time strolling through the park, enjoying the gentle company of the deer, and capturing moments that will warm your heart for years to come.
How to get to Nara Park
If you’re interested in exploring Nara without any hassle, consider booking a day tour. I’ve only covered Nara Deer Park in this article, but the city is quite charming and has much more to explore!
Otherwise, you can easily get to Nara using public transportation.
Nara Deer Park From Osaka
Take the Chuo Line (green) towards Ikoma and ride until you reach Ikoma Station. This train will take approximately 32 minutes. From Ikoma Station, transfer to the Kintetsu-Nara line (orange) towards Kintetsu-Nara and get off at Nara Park Station, also called Kintetsu-Nara Station. The entire transfer process should cost less than 1,000 yen and takes a total of about 1 hour.
🏯 Read more: Osaka Travel Guide: What to Do, Eat, and See
Nara Deer Park From Kyoto
There are two options from Kyoto depending on if you take the local train or the Limited Express train for an extra fee.
For the local train, you can take the express Kintetsu-Kyoto Line (orange) from Kyoto Station directly to Kintetsu-Nara Station. The ride takes about 43 minutes and costs 760 yen per person.
If you take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Kyoto Station, you’ll have to buy an extra ticket to certify that you can ride on the Limited Express train. Similar to the local train route but faster, the Kintetsu Limited Express to Kintetsu-Nara Station takes about 34 minutes and costs 1,280 yen per person.
Once you reach Kintetsu-Nara Station, you’ll see the park immediately upon exiting.
⛩️ Read more: The Essential Kyoto Bucket List for Sightseeing
How to interact with the bowing deer of Nara
Around the park, you’ll see carts and stands selling what looks like stacks of flat biscuits. You can buy these packets of deer crackers for 200 yen each and the deer love them, but make sure to not feed them any other kind of food.
The deer are obsessed with the crackers and can even swarm you in their excitement to eat them. Hold a cracker out and bow to the deer. When the deer bows back, immediately feed it the cracker—they can get agitated and upset if they don’t receive their rewards. Congratulations, you’ve made a new friend!
Don’t worry if the deer nudge or even nibble at you a little bit, they just want snacks. They were nipping at my skirt the entire time because I couldn’t distribute deer crackers quickly enough!
There are a few other rules besides not feeding the deer outside food. Do not grab or touch the deer. Petting is okay, but don’t chase them or try to grab onto them. It’s illegal to harm or hurt them in any way. Overall, the deer are very docile, but they occasionally kick their hind legs, so make sure small children stay in front of the deer at all times.
Exploring Nara Park
The park is surprisingly large, offering plenty of space for all the deer and visitors to interact. The most amount of people (and deer) will be crowded at the tip of the park closest to Nara’s train station, but don’t bother stopping here. Venture further and further into the park where you’ll find more deer and fewer tourists to bother you.
For example, even though we arrived in the morning, people had already been feeding the deer nonstop for hours. The deer near the train station weren’t interested in eating at all. They were too busy napping or ignoring tourists because their bellies were already full.
We walked just a little further, maybe 2 fields away, and the crowds melted away. Deer started swarming us when they saw that we had deer crackers! At one point I had five or six deer biting for a cracker from my hand from all sides. And we saw way more hungry deer past the point that we stopped at. So don’t worry—if the deer aren’t interested in you, just walk a little further and you’ll find ones that are eager for food and attention.
Nara, the picturesque town nestled between Kyoto and Osaka, offers an experience unlike any other. The bowing deer of Nara Deer Park, with their adorable charm and friendly nature, captivate visitors from around the globe. As you wander through the park, feeding the deer their favorite treats and witnessing their endearing gestures, you’ll be filled with a sense of wonder and delight. This unique experience is definitely one of the best experiences you can do in Japan’s Kansai region for almost free!
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