Have you ever seen a picture or a movie of frightened tourists surrounded by many deer?
This is what often happens on trip to Nara.
But you do not have to be afraid of deer.
If you learn about them in advance, you can get along with them and have a lot of fun!
Please check the helpful tips below.
How to play with deer in Nara Park
Shika senbei (deer crackers)
The most popular way is to give them Shika senbei (deer crackers).
It is sold at stalls everywhere in Nara Park and you can buy it for 200yen.
Mostly only cash is acceptable as method of payment, so please note that.
When you give it to deer, you have to be careful and watch out your surroundings because you will get surrounded by deer that wants Shika Senbei as soon as you have it in your hands.
Be calm and feed them gently.
After you feed them, you should spread out your hand and show them that you do not have Shika senbei anymore,
otherwise deer will keep following you as thinking that you have more Shika senbei.
・Don’t give deer food other than Shika senbei
Shika senbei is made for deer and safe to eat.
It is made from rice bran and flour excluding sugar and salt.
But if you give them some food like snacks, vegetables and other leftover food that we eat, it can be a cause of illness.
So it is strictly prohibited.
In addition, a part of the profits from sales of Shika senbei will be used on the protection of deer.
Sometimes deer eat your maps, plastic bags and brochures and so on, so you should keep them in your bags.
And their antlers may happen to get caught in your clothes or bags accidentally, so you have to be careful because it can hurt you and deer.
・Never litter
Deer eats trash by mistake.
The cases that resulted in death actually happened.
You must not do it.
・Pay attention to your dog
Deer is a coward animal and dog is its natural enemy.
If you are walking with your dog, deer may get surprised with it and run away, then it leads to collision accidents with people or cars.
You must put a dog on a leash and keep away from deer in Nara Park.
・Do not attack deer
As mentioned above, since they are wild animals, they may attack people.
So do not follow or hit them and keep your eyes on especially small child.
Events and Facilities that you can enjoy
① Shikayose(Deer Gathering)
It is one of traditional events.
Playing a horn makes deer to gather.
It has taken place several times in every year since 1862.
When a horn is played, many deer comes from deep in the woods.
This can be seen only in Nara, so it is worth experiencing.
② Tsunokiri(Cutting deer antlers)
It started in Edo Period for hazard prevention and protection of trees.
The antlers are cut by a saw and put them on the altar.
Although it is an important symbol for male deer, this is the way that deer and human live together.
③ Rokuen(Deer Garden)
It is a protection facility for mother deer and babies located in south side of the road with stone lanterns to Kasugataisha shrine.
It contains 200 pregnant deer in April every year.
The parents and children deer have been put on view to the public until the middle of July.
The babies will be able to go around with mothers by that time.
They are so cute, so do not miss it!
There is also a reference room and you can learn about deer in more details.
④ Memorial Service
It is taken place in November every year.
The dead deer are taken to the Rokuen and buried in the deer mound by Shinto priests of Kasugataisha shrine.
The deer died in the year are enshrined.
Life cycle of deer
① Estrus
Deer are in heat from September to November.
Especially male deer will become offensive, so you have to be careful.
② Childbirth
Deer gives birth from May to June.
In those time, female deer are very tense, so you should not get too close to them.
Furthermore, if you find their babies, leave them alone.
③ Longevity
It is said that male deer lives about 12-15years, female deer lives about 20-25years.
The oldest ones are 21-year-old male deer and 27-year-old female deer at the moment.
Give it a try to find them!
What is about deer in Nara
① Biology
The baby deer’s weight is about 3,000g, the adult male deer’s weight is 60kg and the adult female deer’s weight is from 40 to 60kg.
Only male deer has their antlers and they will be shed and regrown every year.
The antlers that deer about 1-year-old have will split into three as they grow up.
They belong to each groups and each ones have certain places to sleep.
They start to move around with the sunrise and get back to their bedding in the early evening.
② History
You can see deer roaming around Nara Park.
Why is there so many deer in Nara Park?
A part of Nara Park’s premises belong to Kasugataisha shrine.
Ancient myths tells that the God of the shrine rode deer and came to Nara.
So deer have been protected carefully for a long time.
And they were designated as a natural monument in 1957.
They are wild animals and there is no owner.
They usually eat wild grasses and acorns.
③ How many deer in Nara Park
There are 217 male deer, 806 female deer, 82 baby deer and added up to 1105 deer. (a survey conducted in July, 2021)
④ Where to go to meet deer
You can see them around Nara Park in Nara city, a center of Nara Prefecture.
Summary
This time we introduced how to play with deer.
If you get interested in this, we recommend you to visit Nara Park and give them Shika senbei!
