Nara Park and the Bowing Deer
奈良公園
Nara Park · near Kintetsu Nara Station (5 min walk)
Nara Park and the Bowing Deer in Nara Park. Around 1,400 free-roaming sacred deer wander the lawns, and many will bow their heads for a cracker, a genuine thrill for children hand-feeding a wild animal.
Why children love it: Around 1,400 free-roaming sacred deer wander the lawns, and many will bow their heads for a cracker, a genuine thrill for children hand-feeding a wild animal.
Honest drawbacks: The deer are wild and can be pushy, nipping or head-butting for food, so very young children need close supervision and crackers held out of reach until ready.
- Best for
- Toddlers (2–4), Primary (5–11), Teens (12–17)
- Time to allow
- 1.5h
- Opening hours
- Open park with no gates or admission; deer roam freely day and night, most active in daylight around the vendors.
- Price
- Park is free and open all hours. A stack of 12 shika senbei deer crackers costs about 200 yen from licensed vendors; these are the only food you may give the deer.
- Booking
- Usually walk-in
- English
- ★★★☆☆
- Indoor / weather
- outdoor
More to do in Nara
Turn this into a real day
Our itinerary builder paces a trip around your children’s ages, the weather and realistic travel time - and it draws on this whole research database, not a hard-coded shortlist.
Add Nara Park and the Bowing Deer to a plan →