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The Deer Really Do Bow! Day Trip to Nara, Japan

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This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove It (Literally): Shanghai Disneyland Hits and Misses, Dormy Inn Shibuya Jingumae Hot Spring in Tokyo, Highlights of our Tokyo Shenanigans, Surprise Upgrade at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay, Our Machiya Rental in Kyoto, The Deer Really Do Bow! Day Trip to Nara, Japan (this post)

During our stay in Kyoto, Japan, visiting the wild deer in Nara, Japan was on my list. I had seen videos of the deer bowing politely in exchange for crackers, and I needed to see this for myself.  Surprisingly, none of our kids wanted to go, so it was just me and my husband. We took a 35-minute train ride to the Kintetsu Nara Station and walked about 10 minutes to Nara Park.

The Bowing Deer

I read online that the deer in the park can be rather aggressive, and it’s best to walk further into the park to feed deer that are by themselves. So, that’s what we attempted to do. We purchased a pack of deer crackers for 200 yen (around $1.35 USD) and walked deeper into the huge park.

We thought we were far enough away from the aggressive deer at the park entrance, and we started to feed some deer. Unfortunately, some deer swarmed us as soon as we pulled out the crackers, and one deer bit me on my upper thigh. The deer’s teeth did not go through my skin, but the bite was so hard that it left a bruise on my leg for a few weeks! These deer aren’t messing around.

We kept walking farther into the park to find some solo deer, and eventually we did. And the deer do indeed bow for crackers!

A man wearing sunglasses and a backpack is standing on a dirt path, interacting with a deer. The deer is facing him, and there is a sign with a price in yen nearby. In the background, another person is walking, and there is a traditional building with a tiled roof surrounded by trees. The sky is partly cloudy.

I couldn’t believe it! It was cool to see the bowing consistently happening. We could tell that some of the younger deer were still trying to figure it out, but the older ones had the act down pat.

I was glad my daughter didn’t come with us because she would have freaked out with the swarming and the unfortunate bite that happened to me. We did see some kids that were traumatized, so be careful.

Nara has more than just deer. We walked inside a few temples close to the park:

The image shows a traditional Japanese temple with a large, ornate roof and red wooden columns. The building has multiple levels with intricate architectural details. In the foreground, a few people are walking on a wide stone pathway leading up to the temple. The sky is partly cloudy, adding a dramatic backdrop to the scene.

The image shows a traditional Japanese temple complex with several buildings featuring curved, tiled roofs. The main building is prominent in the center, with intricate architectural details. People are walking around the courtyard, and the sky is partly cloudy, creating a bright and serene atmosphere.

Next to the Kintetsu Nara Station, we walked down this shopping ally:

A bustling indoor shopping arcade with a high arched ceiling, featuring numerous signs in Japanese. The area is crowded with people walking in various directions, some carrying umbrellas or wearing masks. The signs advertise different shops and services, including a karaoke room. The atmosphere is lively and busy.

We had a yummy lunch at a restaurant (sorry, I can’t recall the name):

A bowl of noodle soup with slices of meat and garnishes is on a tray. Chopsticks are picking up some of the meat. There is a small empty bowl with a spoon next to it, and a glass of water and a can of Coca-Cola in the background.

Luxury Train Ride Back to Kyoto

When we tried to purchase train tickets back to Kyoto, we had some issues with the machine. So, we stood in the ticket line to buy tickets from a human. We ended up on this luxury Aoniyoshi train:

A maroon-colored train with gold accents is stationed at a platform. The train has "Sightseeing Limited Express" written on it and features decorative floral designs on the side. The platform has tactile paving for accessibility, and a few people are visible in the background. The setting appears to be an indoor train station.

It was so pretty on the inside and outside!

The image shows the interior of a train carriage with plush, green upholstered seats arranged in pairs along a window. Each seat has a small wooden table in front of it. The carpet is red with a patterned design. The ceiling has ornate detailing, and there are overhead lights. Outside the window, a person is visible on the platform, walking past the train. The seat numbers "3A" and "3B" are visible on the headrests.

The image shows the interior of a train car with a seating area. There are four red leather chairs arranged around a small wooden table. A blue bottle is placed on the table. The train car has a patterned carpet and a large window with curtains on the right side. The left side features a decorative partition with geometric designs, and the corridor extends towards a door at the end.

The train ride back to Kyoto was really a treat, with some great scenery too!

A traditional Japanese-style building with a curved roof is situated in the middle of a lush green field. The sky above is cloudy, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

I do think that Nara is worth a 1/2 day during your Kyoto itinerary. It was one of my most memorable days in Japan.

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. AlohaDaveKennedy says

    Cool! As devine envoys of the gods Nara deer are more respected than your average Texas deer. Rabbits and turtles can be similar envoys in Japan.

    Reply

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