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Nara Park, Nara

4.5

#1 of 600 in Wildlife in Japan

Wildlife Area Park Must See

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Take a stroll among verdant trees and peaceful shrines of Nara Park, established in 1880. The park shelters relatively tame herds of sika deer, free to roam the lawns and gardens at will. Wander through groves of willows and cherry trees to spot picturesque ponds and admire numerous temples sprinkled throughout the park. The deer, although friendly, occasionally exhibit aggressive behavior in the presence of food--if you wish to feed them, purchase some rice crackers and keep your snacks away from their sight. Nara Park is just one of the many highlights you can arrange to see using our international travel planner, Nara Edition.

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Nara Park Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

5,476 reviews

Google

4.5

• By Michael_dlr

  Pictures and travellers' accounts don't lie, you can feed the wild deer which roam the area. But kindly buy the proper deer food being sold by vendors to make sure the animals remain safe. The park is...  more »

• By devillakaren

  It is one of the best highlights of my Japan trip. You have to stay at Nara Park half day or whole day to enjoy the deer. Beware of those deers with horns as they will run into you if they see you hav...  more »

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Google

• By Kathryn Klein

  I LOVED IT SO MUCH I WENT TWICE! This park is an absolute must do! There are beautiful temples, ponds, bridges, and lots of land to explore. Oh yes, and the DEER are amazing! They are generally docile. If you want to pet them try slowly approaching a deer that is laying down and extend your hand to let it smell you first. If it pulls away when you slowly reach to pet it then let it be. The most disappointing part was some visitors taunting the deer for deer biscuits. Please don’t tease them! These are beautiful creatures with a generally kind demeanor. Treat them with the respect they deserve. Make sure not to leave any trash or the deer will eat it and they can get sick.

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• By Aviva Ebner

  The deer are adorable, but will try to bite your backside if you have food and walk away from them. They really do bow their heads!

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