I don’t know anywhere else in the world where you can buy a deer-themed Hello Kitty keychain, crawl through Buddha’s nostril, gaze up at an awe-inspiring 15-meter-high Buddha, and view the second tallest pagoda in Japan.
I don’t know anywhere else in the world where you can buy a deer-themed Hello Kitty keychain, crawl through Buddha’s nostril, gaze up at an awe-inspiring 15-meter-high Buddha, and view the second tallest pagoda in Japan. If any of these activities sound interesting to you, then you must go to Nara. I haven’t even mentioned the deer, one of the main reasons people go to Nara.
Nara is less than an hour from Kyoto and Osaka, making it a perfect day trip. While you could spend several days there, we spent a day there, and that was the perfect amount of time for us.
Before you can even consider doing anything else in Nara, you must greet the deer. According to Jeffery Hays in his Facts and Details article, in Shinto mythology, deer are considered messengers of the gods, making them national treasures. This distinction gives them free reign over Nara Park, well, all of Nara actually. Putting mythological beliefs aside, I think these deer are primarily responsible for funding the upkeep of the grounds. The words Nara and deer sort of go hand in hand.
It feels like there are millions of freely-roaming, sacred deer, but in actuality, it is somewhere around 1,200. The deer are everywhere! You’re probably envisioning a grassy field with deer resting in the shade under cherry blossom trees. No! They are walking across the streets, blocking the entrances to souvenir stores, or feasting on items in unattended tourist bags. Like I said… the deer are everywhere!
My favorite part of interacting with the deer is when they bow to you. When you approach a deer with a treat in your hand and bow to it, it will bow back. The deer, all while looking really cute, are probably thinking, “This human is so dumb, and I’m going to headbutt it.”
FACT: According to Science Japan, The act of bowing to people is unique to Nara sika deer and has not been seen anywhere else in the world.
I probably have over a dozen videos of the deer bowing. Every time is cuter than the last, and each deer does it slightly differently.
Tip: You can purchase shika senbei (deer crackers) at various places around Nara for about 150 yen (about $1). Keep the bag closed tightly and out of reach from the deer. The deer will happily pick your pocket!
Once you are out of shika senbei and your phone battery is dying from too many videos, you can walk through the park to experience other parts of Nara. Be sure to check out the park bathrooms!
There is an abundance of early emperor temples and Shinto shrines in Nara, highlighting its significance as a key spiritual center of Japan.
Some of the popular historical sites you should visit in Nara:
Tokaiji Temple
Kofukuji Temple
National Treasure Museum
Kasuga Taisha Shrine
The Tokaiji Temple is one of the most famous and significant temples in Japan. Until recently, its main hall, the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall), was the largest wooden building in the world. As if that isn’t impressive enough, inside it houses a 15 meter (approximately 50 feet) tall bronze statue of Buddha, which nearly bankrupted Japan in 751. This is a site you must see!
The Kofukuji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several historical buildings on its grounds. Its five-storied pagoda is 50 meters high (about 164 feet), making it the second-tallest wooden pagoda in the country. The pagoda will be covered from 2023-2031 for renovations.
FACT: D.J. Thomson of JRPass reports that pagodas have five tiers symbolizing the elements of the universe; earth, water, fire, wind, and space.
Visitors often walk right past the National Treasure Museum when visiting Kofukuji Temple, but don’t skip it. The museum has some of the best Buddhist carvings in Japan, including the six-armed Ashura figure.
The Kasuga Taisha Shrine is in the heart of Nara Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s known for the thousands of stone and bronze lanterns that line its pathways and hang suspended in the corridors of the shrine.
FACT: The lanterns are only lit twice a year, during the Setsubun Mantoro Festival in early February and the Obon Mantoro Festival in mid-August. During the festivals, the lanterns are lit up at nightfall, and participants make their way through the park and shrine. Strips of paper decorate some of the lanterns with people’s wishes and gifts.
After you’ve appreciated Nara’s historical landmarks, be sure to check out some of its modern appeal. We were surprised to find:
An amazing gluten free restaurant (Gluten Free is the New Black—our favorite, which has since gone out of business, but there are others to pick from)
