Nara: Where the Deer Roam Freely

Always wanted to be surrounded by animals nuzzling you for food? If you answered yes excitedly, then Nara is definitely the place for you!

Nara Park

The main reason we went to Nara, and probably why most other tourists go, was to see the deer roaming freely around Nara Park!

It’s also where you can find many of Nara’s main attractions. We visited two – Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai-ji Temple.

Kofuku-ji Temple

Todai-ji Temple

Nara Park didn’t disappoint. There were deer everywhere! They were in the woods, on the fields, even in the pond!

WJ bought a packet of deer biscuits from the first vendor we saw close to the Kintetsu Nara station. We didn’t have to worry about getting a supply of deer biscuits though, because there were plenty of vendors throughout the park! One bundle cost 150JPY (S$1.76).

Not all deer were hungry for our biscuits. There were probably too many feeders around! But some deer might chase you for food, so keep an eye out, or you might get a bump on your butt by a greedy creature!

I had to run away from a herd of curious deer because I’m a coward when it comes to animals. Can people who are afraid of animals go to Nara? Sure! Just make sure you have a partner you can push into incoming deer when you have to make a getaway! WJ was very convenient to have around.

Wata Wata Owl Café

Blink and you’ll miss the small sign of this owl cafe. It’s located on the second floor, so look up!

We had to buy an overpriced drink at 1,300JPY (S$15.29) as an admission fee to spend some time with the owls. And get close to them we did.

I’m terrified of most animals, but since the owls were chained to their posts, WJ managed to cajole me to stroke them. It felt like stroking air. Their feathers were so soft!

Since it was Wata Wata’s grand opening day (lucky us), we also received a free chocolate cake each! It might be a small cafe, but it’s definitely worth the experience of getting up and close with cute owls!

Mellow Café

A warm atmosphere and an open kitchen greeted us when we walked through a narrow alley. We had to go in to try their wood-fired pizza after peeking in!

It’s not cheap, but the service was great!

Hope this post helps you in deciding where to go and what to do in Nara!

Did we miss out any great places in Nara? I really enjoyed being in Nara and would love to go back one day, so any tips would be greatly appreciated!