About Nara Park
From 710 to 784, Nara City prospered
as the capital of Japan.
Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara City had a great power and
owned a vast territory, which later became Nara Park.
The area is approximately 511 hectares (approximately 1,263 acres).
About Deer
The deer in Nara Park are wild
and designated as a Natural Monument.
But in Nara, deer are cherished
as "messengers of the god."
Humans and deer have been living together
in Nara for more than 1,300 years.
Why are Deer in Nara Park
considered Messengers of the God?
How Many Deer
are there in Nara Park?
What do Deer Eat?
Why don't /deer eat Deer Senbei?
To Take Good Pictures
of Deer
About Fawn
In Nara Park, baby deer are born from May to July every year. There are about 200 of them.
Pregnant female deer are kept in Rokuen, a shelter for deer, and give birth there.
The baby stays safely with the mother deer in Rokuen for about three months.
However, some female deer give birth in Nara Park, not in Rokuen. You may see a mother deer nursing its fawn. It’s so cute!
But don't get close. Watch from a distance.
Fawns are easily scared, so they run away when humans get close to them.
They could get separated from their mother or run out into the road and cause a traffic accident or get hit by a car.
If they get separated from their mother, they could also be attacked by crows.
If you want to see the fawn -> Newborn Fawn Meet and Greet
Why you should not touch the fawn
A Sad Event in Nara Park -- The Kotsubu-chan Story
About Trash Cans
There are no Trash Cans
in Nara Park
Things to comply in order to
have a good time with deer in Nara Park
- Do not feed anything other than Deer Senbei.
Do not feed foods that you eat such as bread, biscuits, snacks, sausages, etc. These foods contain a lot of oil and sugar, and deer may get sick if they eat it. - Do not feed vegetables.
Vegetables seem to be good food for deer. However, if deer learn the taste of vegetables, they will go to the fields near Nara Park and devour vegetables. - Do not chase or catch deer.
Deer in Nara Park are wild. They are not pets. Please do not try chasing or catching them, in order for you and deer not to get hurt. - Please do not touch the fawn.
The mother deer may neglect the fawn and stop breastfeeding, if they sense the smell of human on the fawn. Do not forget that the fawn may die if you touch them. - Do not drop and litter garbage.
There are no garbage bins in Nara Park. If you litter the garbage, the deer may eat it by mistake. They will also eat small candy wrappers and straws. If they eat them, this may cause them death. - Do not to hold brochure or plastic bags in your hand.
The deer may think that what you are holding is food and take it away. The same is true for plastic bags with food in them. It is recommended to put them in your bag.
Events Related to Deer
The Gathering of the Deer
Newborn Fawn Meet and Greet
Deer Antler Cutting
Blog
About This Website
This website is operated by CAT Publishing.
CAT Publishing ( https://cat-pub.com ) is a small publishing company located in Nara City.
We produce children's books and books that convey the charms of Nara.
We are participating in activities to protect deer in Nara Park.
This site is operated on a non-profit basis.
We do not respond to inquiries about tourism.
Help us with Translation：Kenneth E Lawrence, Kumiko Lawrence, Edward Kai Lawrence
Masako Okamoto
Thanks for：The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation
Thanks for：Yusuke Kawakami