Nara Deer

Visiting the deer in Nara was one of our favorite things of the entire trip.  It was so cool to see deer that were not afraid of people.  I don't think I've ever been up close to a deer before this trip and I have not ever fed them before.

We went to the beautiful park where hundreds of deer were just walking around.  There was this one fenced off area that had many deer in it but there was tons of deer on the path and road as well.  I think the fenced off area was more to keep people out because it definitely wasn't keeping the deer in.

We bought special deer crackers to feed the deer.  The kids were nervous and excited at first.  

All you have to do is act like you have food and you will pretty much be swarmed by the deer.  

Beatrix really liked them...

Until on started encroaching on her stroller space.

The deer knew the people had food and some were a little aggressive to get it.  I read online that the deer are more aggressive this year because of less tourists, I really have nothing to compare it to so I don't know.  There were plenty of people there feeding the deer and I never once felt like a deer was going to hurt even Beatrix.  Many of the deer would even bow their heads for food.  It was amazing.

One deer was biting my jacket to get me to give more food.  I don't think the deer had teeth.  

I read that the Nara deer are sacred and treated as helpers to the Gods.  

It was so fun.

We needed to get a family picture around a deer that was just chilling.

Or two.

He didn't seem to mind us crowding around him for like five minutes trying to take a picture.

If we ever are in the area again I would like to go visit the deer another time.  Everyone in our family really enjoyed it.