Nara Park in Japan

 

We walked from Nara station to Nara Park. 

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We can find wild deer everywhere in the Nara Park. 

There are lots of deer in the center of Nara Park,

 'cause many tourists feed deer-crackers "Shika-senbei; 鹿煎餅" to deer there.

There is a small pond in the Nara Park.

We can see Mount Wakakusa; 若草山 

(or Mount Mikasa; 三笠山) from Nara Park.
Mount Wakakusa is a 342m (1,122ft) high and 33ha wide mountain.

 

 

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Tomo & Chouchou climbed up Mt. Wakakusa 

from Kasugayama-Yuhodo; 春日山遊歩道.

  

 

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We went down Mt. Wakakusa.

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rickshaws "Jinrikisya; 人力車" in the center of the Nara Park. 

the funny signboard alarms us about the deer.   

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We walked back to the Nara station.

Episode of Nara Park

Tomo & Chouchou love to visit Nara Park in autumn. The deer is too famous in Nara. There are about 1200 deer in Nara Park. We can find wild deer everywhere in the park. Especially, there are lots of deer in the center of Nara Park. Because there are many shops in there and they sell deer-crackers called "Shika-senbai" to the tourits. So the deer know that they can receive many crackers from the tourists. 

There was a small pond in the Nara Park. We could be relaxed with staying beside the pond. We could see Mount Wakakusa (or Mount Mikasa) around the center of the Nara Park. There are two entrances to climb Mount Wakakusa. However in the autumn, the main entrance was closed. So Tomo & Chouchou climbed up Mt.Wakakusa from another entrance Kasugayama-Yuhodo. Kasugayama-Yuhodo is the trail starting from the bottom of Mount Kasuga; 春日山 until the top of Mount Wakakusa. We could enjoy the landscape of Nara from the top of the mountain. 

While walking in the Nara Park, we found a signboard alarming us about the deer.
The illustration and English translation on the sign were funny!  :-)

Normally we visit Kasuga-taisha; 春日大社 and Tōdai-ji; 東大寺. This time we tried hiking in Nara. It was different. We could enjoy the nature more. It was a good discovery in Nara.

 

Tomo & Chouchou's advices for Nara Park

1) We can have a picnic in the center of the park. But when we have foods, the deer quickly approach us and ask the food. So please be careful. 

ATTENTION!) Even if the deer approach you to ask foods, please don't give any foods that you have. Please give only deer-crackers.

2) If you have difficulty to walk around on foot or if you want to feel time-travelling to Old Japan, we recommend sightseeing by rickshaw. We can mostly find rickshaws in the center of the Nara Park.

3) Please be careful of the deer especially from September to November.
Because it's the mating season and the deer get a violent temper easily.

4) In October, there is the event called "Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony (Shika no Tunokiri)" in Kasuga Grand Shrine (Kasuga-Taisha).
This event has been held since Edo period, so it's very good to visit such a traditional event.  Please see the detail below (↓information).

5) The Nara Park is very large. But it is also convenient sightseeing spot because there are Eastern Great Temple (Tōdai-ji) where is famous for Great Budda (Daibutsu), and Kasuga Grand Shrine (Kasuga Taisha) around the park. Many interesting spots are gathered. So we advise you to visit as many as you can around Nara Park. you can enjoy Old Japanese culture and history in Nara. More than anything, the Nara Park is a wonderful place where human beings and deer live together!

Tomo & Chouchou request 

If you want to feed the deer, please purchase deer-crakers at the shop.
Please don't give something else.


information

Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony  

(Japanese: Shika no Tsunokiri; 鹿の角切り)

Date: in October (Ref: Oct. 10-12 in 2015)
Time: 12-15h (5 times/day, 1 time takes about 30 minutes.)
Admission fee: Adult 1000yen, Elementary school students 500yen (in 2015)
Place: Rokuen in Kasuka Taisha (春日大社境内「鹿苑」)