Nara Park

Nara Park (Nara Koen) in Japan is famous for its over 1,000 friendly deer roaming around the park, which are considered messengers of the gods according to local folklore! Deer feeding is a popular activity, and some have even learned to bow to ask for treats. Special deer biscuits made from rice bran and wheat flour can be bought all over the park. While the deer are friendly, approach them calmly and follow park rules to keep everyone safe.

The park also attracts visitors with its traditional Japanese cultural experiences. You can have fun exploring its ancient shrines, beautiful temples, and the famous Great Buddha statue. Plus, Nara Park, with an official size of about 502 hectares, has around 1,200 deer in total. These park deer are considered sacred and a natural treasure in Japan.

You don't need any tickets to enter Nara Park; it's free and open to everyone. Visiting Nara Park is an affordable way to see Japan's beauty and culture. You can walk around with the deer and enjoy the beautiful scenery without spending much. But some spots inside, like Todaiji Temple, might have their admission fees.

Nara Park is located in Nara City, right at the base of Mount Wakakusa. It's a beautiful spot known for its nature and temples, making it a key landmark in the city. It's also close to both JR Nara Station and Kintetsu Nara Station, making it easy to reach from different parts of the city.

Nara Park is located in Nara City, right at the base of Mount Wakakusa. It's convenient to get to Nara Park because nearly all city center buses stop by around the park, and there are many train stations nearby. Nara Park is easily accessible from either Osaka or Kyoto.

If you're departing from Kyoto, you can take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station directly to JR Nara Station. Trains come every 30 minutes, and the ride lasts about 45 minutes. You can also take the Kintetsu Nara Line to Kintetsu Nara Station if you don't have a JR Pass.

If you're departing from Osaka, take the Yamatoji Line from JR Namba Station or Tennoji Station to JR Nara Station. Depending on where you start, the ride takes between 30 and 45 minutes. Nara Park is around a 20-minute walk from JR Nara Station and a 6-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.

The best time to visit Nara Park is during the daytime, particularly in the morning or early afternoon, to enjoy the deer and the temples. While Nara Park itself is open 24 hours a day, many attractions and temples have daytime opening hours. Make sure to visit one of its popular attractions, "deer calling," or "shikayose," where you can see the deer gather when a horn is blown. This happens on winter mornings at 10 AM from February to mid-March and on Sundays during the summer.

Plan to spend at least half a day in Nara Park to explore many shrines and famous temples, such as the Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. If you have more time, spend a whole day taking pictures with the stunning scenery and try some local food. Don't forget to feed the deer special crackers sold at the park.

While the deer are surprisingly tame, they are protected as natural monuments. Also, during mating season, some male deer can become aggressive, so it’s important to stay calm and move slowly around them. Always show respect to Nara's deer to make sure everyone has a great and safe time. You can buy special deer crackers, called shika senbei, to feed them. Giving them these deer cookies is a great way to make friends with them. These special deer biscuits made from rice bran and wheat flour can be bought all over the park.