Nara: Deer
About 15 mi from our lunch spot is Nara, famous for its free-roaming deer. Approximately 1,200 to 1,400 wild Sika deer roam Nara Park, considered sacred, protected national treasures, and messengers of the gods.
The deer, once regarded as messengers of the Shinto god Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto, have been protected for over 1,300 years. They roam freely, mostly in Nara Park and the nearby Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and are unafraid of humans. In fact, humans pet them and can feed them specialized deer crackers called “shika senbei” (you are not allowed to feed them anything else).
You buy the crackers in nearby shops. If you initially withhold the cracker from the deer, many of them will bow before receiving the senbei. Bowing is a learned, trained behavior used to ask for food, not an innate gesture of respect. They can be aggressive, especially in autumn or when food is visible, so you are advised to keep the food hidden until you are ready, or to clearly show them empty hands to avoid being surrounded.
The aggressive behavior can be problematic for younger children, and even some adults seemed quite afraid. While not that likely, you may get bitten (feed them like a horse, with an open hand) or kicked.
Following the walkway along the park leads you to Tōdai-ji (東大寺).