Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
NARA PARK REVIEW - INCLUDING THE GORGEOUS NARA DEER AND INCREDIBLE TODAI-JI TEMPLE
NARA PARK REVIEW: Grab your deer treats, comfy shoes, and lots and lots of laughs and WOW moments, because Nara Park in Japan is the ultimate chaotic petting zoo crossed with an incredible ancient temple trail that’ll have you questioning why you have never been here before. Today, I, your expat food and travel blogger turned accidental deer whisperer, fresh off a day trip from Osaka where 1,200 free-roaming Sika Deer turned me into their personal ATM faster than Strawb when she needs more shampoo or makeup…
It’s November 2025, and the Kennett clan is exploring this Nara Park Nara Japan sprawl on our last day in Osaka—over 500 hectares of grassy mayhem—still draws punters like moths to a lantern festival, with bowing beasts nuzzling your pockets for shika senbei crackers (¥200 a pack, buy ’em everywhere or face the wrath of the nibblers).
History kicked off in the 8th century when Emperor Shomu unleashed these sacred critters as divine messengers, and now they’re UNESCO-protected divas bossing tourists around Nara’s paths, from Kofukuji’s five-storey pagoda to Kasuga Taisha’s lantern-lined woods. Two cheeky lady deer nibbled and headbutted my arse as I walked along—now, that’s a proper welcome, that.
Nara Park Review: Contents
How to get to Nara Park from Osaka
From Osaka Station, it’s a breezy 45-minute Kintetsu line hop (¥570 one-way, beat the JR crowds), dumping you at Nara’s gates where deer gangs storm you are you step in and greet you like overeager aunties at Chinese New Year. We actually just booked an Uber from our hotel, a tad punchy, but 45 minutes door to door = Boomski!!!
Start at Nara Deer Park, dodging antlered gangs that’ll snatch maps or scarves if you blink—feed ’em flat-handed or risk finger chomps (they’re vegetarians, but manners optional). Paths weave past Sarusawa Pond, where willows frame Kofukuji’s pagoda like a postcard, as y9ou’ll see from the photos, incredible with reflections shimmering on the water. Autumn is amazing here, as the colour of the leaves just pop with reds, oranges and yellows. It’s WOW.
Is Nara Park worth the trip?
We were immediately hooked on arrival, head over heels in love with Nara, it’s history and its famous inhabitants. I watched families chuck crackers while tots squealed, and schoolgirls ran screaming because a deer just nibbled a finger or bum; whilst we snapped solo and family Instagram pics amid the copious amounts of bowing. Approaching Winter had chilled the air, turning breath to mist as these beautiful and elegant beasts huddled for warmth (the deer not my kids)—cuter than kittens, bolder than Singaporean hawker aunties.
Pro tip: stash valuables high; these lot are pickpocket pros with hooves. It’s pure pandemonium, the sort where you emerge fur-dusted, covered in deer spit, nibbled all over, and grinning ear-to-ear, searching your loose change pocket desperately for buying extra senbei.
Toda-Ji Temple Review: Best Japanese temple I have ever seen
Now, the big kahuna: Todai-ji Temple, lumbering like a wooden behemoth since 752 AD, housing the Daibutsu— a 15-metre bronze Buddha that stares down centuries with chill vibes. Duck through Nandaimon Gate’s massive timber frame (national treasure, carved 1203), flanked by 26-foot Nio guardians glaring like bouncers at a dodgy Orchard Towers bar (you know what I mean…). ¥600 entry gets you inside Daibutsu-den, the globe’s largest wooden hall (though rebuilt post-1709 blaze—size doesn’t always mean fireproof).
Interesting fact: not one metal nail was used to construct this bad boy. Now that really is amazing…
Crawl through the Buddha’s nostril hole in a pillar (good luck charm, tight squeeze for adults—my fat belly protested louder than a deer denied a cracker). Lanterns sway, incense wafts thick as fog, and the statue’s palm begs coin tosses for wishes. Crowds peak midday; hit pre-9 AM for elbow room. Nearby, Nigatsu-do Hall overlooks Nara basin, lanterns glowing at dusk like fireflies on steroids. It’s breath-taking, awe-striking and just totally fabulous—Buddha’s gaze hits harder than my Wife after I’ve had a late night out.
Todai-Ji Temple: not a single nail used...
Todai-ji Temple in Nara kicked off in the 8th century under Emperor Shomu, a pious chap reeling from plagues, famines, and quakes that had Japan looking like a bad horror flick. In 741, he decreed a temple in every province to spread Buddhism as the state faith, plonking Todai-ji as the granddaddy in Nara—construction raged from 745 to 752, with over 2.6 million peasants chucking in clay, rice, and sweat to cast a whopping 15-metre bronze Daibutsu of Vairocana Buddha. Imagine the imperial edict reading like “everyone pitch in or the next smallpox round’s on you,” turning national panic into a wooden wonder that housed the lot in a hall taller than many of today’s cranes.
Todai-Ji 15m high Buddha Statue
The original setup burned down twice—first in 1180 amid clan wars, then again in 1567 during samurai squabbles—but monk Chogen rallied funds from Suo province to rebuild the Daibutsu-den by 1195, slapping on Chinese Song dynasty flair with massive pillars and that iconic bronze beast (recast post-fire, still the largest in Japan). It’s just mind-blowing how good this temple is – this is bucket list stuff, folks…
Emperor Shomu dedicated it in 752 with a ceremony flashier than one of Luke Archer’s BBQs, lanterns blazing and monks chanting till dawn – yeap just like one of Luke Archer’s BBQs. It’s weathered reconstructions, earthquakes, and wars, now a UNESCO darling drawing punters to gawp at guardians and crawl through nostril holes for luck – unlike one of Luke Archer’s BBQs. Proper survivor, that’s Todai-ji—history’s way of saying “build big, burn often, rebuild better.” It’s such an incredible ‘find we made this day, I am so happy we did indeed decide to visit and not just do Osaka shopping: dodged that bullet.
The Nara Park Deer: How did the Nara Deer start bowing?
Wander deeper into Nara Park deer territory, where paths fork to Kasuga Taisha Shrine’s 3,000 stone lanterns (light-up fest Feb & Aug, magical but mobbed). Deer trail you like paparazzi, lowing demands till you cave—¥200 cracker refills keep peace. Spring sakura explodes 1,500 trees pink; autumn koyo paints maples fiery; winter snow dusts it all ethereal. Food-wise, Nara’s no Tsukiji Fish Market frenzy, but park fringes tempt with kakinoha-zushi (persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi, ¥500 for five—tangy rice balls portable and could be used as deer bait) and yomogi mochi (greener than Kermit’s bum).
Nara’s deer trace their sacred most cool origins back to the 8th century, when legend claims the thunder god Takemikazuchi galloped in from Kashima Shrine on a snow-white steed, no not Shrek II, to guard the new capital—turning every spotted sika into a divine dispatch rider overnight. Apparently, slaying one meant your head on a pike till 1637, when some fool finally tested the ban and paid the price. Whoopsy, saved on his haircuts though…
Genetic boffins reckon these Nara lot branched off from Kii Peninsula kin around 1,400 years ago, right as Kasuga Taisha popped up in 768 AD, letting them thrive in splendid isolation amid shrine woods—no hunting, just holy handouts of rice bran and reverence. Proper VIP status, these little beauties have—messengers of the gods, protected longer than most marriages last (excluding mine of course).
Fast-forward through plagues, wars, and capital shifts, and the deer herd ballooned to 1,300 bossy beasts by 2025, bowing for senbei crackers while nicking scarves, handphones, and everything else they can get their little mouths on like petty thieves. Post-WWII booms saw numbers explode (over 2,000 by the ’90s), sparking culls to curb park munching, but they’re still UNESCO darlings, I believe chipped for tracking and fed daily to keep the peace. Tourists feed the frenzy now, but locals honour the old pact—deer lowing like they’re still ferrying godly memos. Nara’s deer prove folklore sticks harder than deer spit did to my jacket.
The bowing deer of Nara... how did the deer learn to bow?
Nara’s deer didn’t start bowing following some divine politeness seminar—they picked it up as a cheeky survival hack, associating head dips with snack payouts from centuries of human handouts – come on, you’ve seen Pavlov’s Dogs with the bell? Well this is a cuter, and much more endearing version.
The science reckons it kicked off when stressed wild sika lowered heads before charges, but park life flipped the script: nobles in Heian days (9th century) bowed respectfully while hand-feeding, training the beasts to mimic for rice bran rewards. Over generations, mums taught fawns the trick—bow low, score crackers—turning sacred messengers into opportunistic grovellers, that are totally unique, and so damned cute, to Nara.
Fast-forward, and COVID cleared crowds, slashed the deer bows from 10 per punter to 6-ish as the lessons lapsed for 2-3 years—professor Yoichi Yusa clocked it, proving it’s learned behaviour, not DNA-deep devotion: what. great job he’s got. Now back at full tilt in 2025, they’ll double-dip for hesitant tourists, headbutting you in the arse if you try and stiff ’em. It’s no godly grace, just smart street smarts from 1,400 years of protection—they literally rule the park like furry extortionists.
Any drawbacks of Nara and Nara Park?
Deer dominance—aggressive beggars headbutt if ignored, clothing potentially shredded daily. Paths pack weekends (Osaka day-trippers swarm); weekdays quieter. Toilets clean but queues form; comfy kicks dodge gravel woes. Entry fees stack (Todai-ji ¥600, Kasuga ¥500)—ICOCA card saves faff. Winter bites (layer up), summer sweats (hydrate heavy). Wow, so factual Brian, nice writing…
Where to eat in Nara? What are the best restaurants in Nara?
Nara’s dining scene punches above its deer-dodging weight, with Kamameshi Shizuka leading the charge on rice pot wizardry—think iron cauldrons bubbling over open flames since 1959, stuffed with chicken, veg, or mushrooms that soak up smoky depths like sponges at a car-wash.
Prices hover fair (¥1,500-2,500), queues snake at lunch but flip quick—proper comfort for cold snaps. Nearby, Kura Izakaya slings salaryman grub in Naramachi’s lantern glow: yakitori skewers charred just so, Yamato Wagyu beef sizzling, and sashimi sharp as antlers. Dive into offal pots bubbling like a witches cauldron or pickled radish chasers; it’s boozy banter central, ¥3,000-4,000 a head keeping it wallet-friendly without skimping on punch and amount. Got to give it a go, folks…
For beefy bliss, Maguro Koya flips the fishy script with kaisendon bowls brimming tuna towers that flop fresh from Tokyo hauls, though their wagyu sides are also a massive standout—fatty cubes melting fork-tender atop rice that mocks any Singaporean hawker don.
Michelin whispers nod to kaiseki spots like Hitoshizuku, counter seats watching chefs weave seasonal magic (lunch ¥4,000-7,000, value king for kappo finesse), or Kitsune’s sukiyaki bubbling Nara Wagyu Beef in sweet-savoury pots that coat your soul with sticky umami. Yoshinaya’s udon empire near Yoshino River slings kakinoha-zushi sets with hand-pulled noodles that slurp slurpier than most noodles could. Portions feed families, prices re also gentle (¥1,000 sets), turning post-park pangs into proper foodie feasts. Nara seriously has great dining options – ENJOY!!!
What is the history of Nara?
Nara kicked off as Japan’s first proper capital in 710 AD when Empress Genmei shifted the imperial court from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijo-kyo (Nara’s old name), laying it out on a strict grid like a Milton Keynes knock-off with the palace smack at the north end. Picture the planners with abacuses sweating over straight lines amid rice paddies, turning a sleepy spot into a buzzing hub of ~200,000 souls—nearly 7% of the population back in the day—complete with bureaucrats, monks, and merchants flogging silk and other such valuable consumables.
It was the Nara Period’s golden hour (710-794), awash in Chinese imports: Confucianism codes, poetry anthologies like Man’yoshu, and massive temple builds that sucked up national rice taxes like a Dyson. Plagues and quakes had the royals spooked, so Emperor Shomu went big on Buddhism, plonking Todai-ji as the centrepiece to ward off doom—proper panic architecture.
The party’s end came in 784 when Emperor Kammu packed up for Nagaoka-kyo (then Heian-kyo, modern Kyoto), blaming Nara’s power-mad monks for meddling too much in court drama (Fujiwara clan pulling strings didn’t help). Brief blips saw capitals flip to Kuni, Naniwa, and Shigaraki during smallpox scares, but Nara bounced back till the big move.
Fires destroyed Todai-ji twice over—but rebuilds kept the glory alive, leaving UNESCO-protected bones like Kasuga Taisha and Kofukuji. Population dipped post-shift to Tokyo, but the deer stuck around as sacred messengers, turning the park into today’s tourist trap. From imperial seats to deer dominion, Nara’s history roars resilience—quakes, wars, and all that – she’s a beauty.
What else is there to do in Nara?
Beyond the deer chaos and Todai-ji gawping at Nara Park Nara Japan, wander to Kofuku-ji Temple’s five-storey pagoda looming like a concrete-free skyscraper, its treasure hall stuffed with Ashura statues that stare soul-deep—¥700 entry, worth every yen for the Buddhist bling. I also recommend a stomp to Kasuga Taisha Shrine’s lantern forest (3,000 stone beauties lighting up twice yearly—Feb/Aug fests mobbed but magical), where vermillion gates frame mossy paths perfect for dodging the dear antlered beggars. Toshodai-ji’s Golden Hall (8th-century survivor, ¥600) whispers quieter vibes southwest, while Isuien Garden’s ponds and teahouse (¥1,200 combo ticket) mock your Singaporean condo balcony with proper zen – total peace.
Nara National Museum near the park hoards Buddhist sculptures like a dragon on gold (¥700, seasonal specials amp it), Sarusawa Pond mirrors pagodas for Instagram gold (free, willows weeping year-round), and Nigatsu-do Hall’s balcony panoramas sprawl the basin like feudal Google Earth. For off-path kicks, Naramachi’s merchant alleys hawk mochi-pounding demos at Nakatanadou (sticky orbs ¥150, hammers flying) or koriyama Castle ruins blanketed in 600 sakura come spring. Todai-ji Nigatsu-do ties it neatly into a bloody big bow fo amazong stuff to see, do and eat!!! We loved Nara – and would absolutely go back again, and again.
Wrapping this deer-dodging delight, Nara Park Nara Deer Todai-ji combo is seriously one of Japan’s best days out, so don’t miss it folks—temples towering, beasts bossing, Buddha beaming eternal calm amid touridm chaos. Drag your family and mates away from the city chaos of Osaka/Kyoto, bribe deer with crackers, gawp at giants, emerge enlightened (or antler-bruised). Skip Disney Sea (absolutely); this free-range fun trumps a lot of what we did in Japan on our trip – we’re still talking about it today. Proper family fun, zero regrets, no Ipads—now pass me another senbei please, my dear deer friends are waiting for me.
Nara Park Review, Osaka: Deers and Temples, what a wonderful day in Osaka
So, after dodging many deer headbutts and gawping at that colossal Daibutsu like a kid spotting Santa, it’s time to wrap this Nara Park Review with a bow—or a shika senbei wrapper, more like. Out 5 hour trip here was full of fur, spit, chewing and the most amazing history and natural beauty, declaring Nara Park Nara Japan as an ultimate day trip that turns Osaka commuters into wide-eyed wanderers faster than a Shinkansen train. Those 1,200 sika divas rule the roost with bows and nibbles that border on enjoyable blackmail.
Todai-ji’s wooden behemoth looms eternal, nostril crawl promising luck (or chiropractor bills), while Kasuga’s lanterns whisper ancient secrets amid the lowing chorus. Sure, weekends swarm like rush-hour Shinjuku, and antlers can poke the unwary in many places, but that’s the thrill—raw, ridiculous, and just so damned photogenic. Families chase herds giggling, couples feed fawns turning romantic, and solos ponder Buddha’s gaze getting all meditative. Blimey, it beats Sentosa hands down – you will be missed Nara.
Truth be told, Nara Deer Park steals the show as Japan’s bossiest beast engagement, where sacred messengers morph into tourist tax collectors, bowing their demands till you cough up crackers or scarves. Paths weave past pagodas that punch history in the gut—Kofukuji’s five-stories mocking modern skyscrapers, Nigatsu-do’s views sprawling like a romping English countryside. It is stunning.
Winter dusts it ethereal (pack thermals), spring sakura parties pink (book ahead), Autumn koyo ignites maples mad (we experienced this season, and it it just magical with colour pops everywhere). Food is so tempting with kakinoha-zushi and Nakatanidou’s hammer frenzy, sticky orbs cheaper than any regret you’ll ever have for putting on a few pounds. Any niggles? Not really. It was busy, of course, but what do expect for a place with such significance historically, such beauty and those bloody loveable hugable deer.
In the end, rally your crew for Nara Park Nara Deer Todai-ji amazement: bribe the beautiful beasts, squeeze through pillars, and emerge wiser. Ditch Disney Sea drudgery and queues, chase this free-range fun—your Instagram vwill explode, yours souls soothed, stories endless. From emperor’s envoys to modern munchies, Nara doesn’t tiptoe; it charges antler-first. Legend status locked, zero doe-eyed doubts. Now, who’s buying the next senbei round? What a cracker- literally!!!
What are Nara Park Opening Hours?
Nara Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, with free admission to the park itself, allowing visitors to enjoy the famous deer and scenery anytime. However, specific attractions within the park, like Todai-ji Temple or Kasuga Taisha Shrine, have their own separate hours and entry fees, so check those individually.
What's the address of Nara Park?
People also asked about Nara Park
Q: Is Nara in Osaka? No, Nara Park isn’t in Osaka—it’s smack in Nara City Japan, Nara Prefecture, but dead easy as a day trip from there-we booked an Uber from the hotel-(or Kyoto), or you can hop on a quick train in 30-45 minutes flat. Those free-roaming sika deer that bow for crackers rule the 500-hectare sprawl alongside tourism heavy-hitters like Todai-ji’s massive Daibutsu and Kasuga Taisha’s lantern forest. Proper pilgrimage spot, awe-inspiring and just so much fun to boot.
Q; Is Nara Park in Kyoto? No, Nara Park is not in Kyoto; it’s in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, but it’s a very popular and easy day trip destination from Kyoto (and Osaka) because it’s so close, about a 30-45 minute train ride away. Nara Park is famous for its friendly, free-roaming sika deer and historic sites like Todai-ji Temple.
Q: Where is Nara Park in Japan? Nara Park is in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, located at the base of Mount Wakakusa, famous for its tame, free-roaming sika deer considered sacred messengers, and home to historic temples like Todai-ji Temple and shrines such as Kasuga Grand Shrine. It’s a major attraction in the Kansai region, easily accessible as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto.
Top Tips for Nara Park, Osaka
- Dawn raid for deer dominance (pre-9 AM): Hit the park at first light when the deer SWAT squads are sleepy and less likely to mug you for the biccies. Also fewer tour buses means peaceful paths to Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, with bowing beasts more photogenic than pushy. Weekends explode post-noon; midweek mornings let you feed without antler wars with coachloads of ‘other’ tourists.
- Bow first, bribe smart: Show the cracker packet high, dip your head low—these learned grovellers with then mimic so well for those biscuuits. Put flat-palm to feed, and so to dodge finger chomps (they’re veggie thugs, but not cannibals). Buy from official stalls (¥200 packs), stash extras zipped away or in deep pockets—the headbutters can smell em a mile away, and if they can’t get to the goods, they’ll claim scarves, hats, even your bum otherwise.
- Grippy shoes, layered kit, yen pockets: Gravel paths slick with dew or doe droppings demand tread; mornings chill toes before the sun cranks sweat—thermals under tees win. Cash rules for crackers and kiosks, comfy shoes and clothes as you’re gonna cover 5-10km walking.