Why are deer sacred in Nara?
Why are deer sacred in Nara? The legend goes that the thunder god, Takemikazuchi, appeared in Nara riding on a white deer. The deer carried a scroll in its mouth, and Takemikazuchi warned the awestruck mortals who beheld him that from that point on, the deer would report their actions to the gods.
Can you feed the deer in Nara Japan?
Even though there are many things to see and do in Nara Park, feeding the deer is definitely a highlight and one of my favourite experiences in Japan. After buying a package of special deer crackers from one of the vendors in the park, we walked around looking for some deer to feed.
Where do the Nara deer go at night?
The deer are active at all hours of the day, looking for their next handout, but with few people around at night, most of them just rest on the ground.
Do deer in Japan have predators?
Japan has the largest Sika deer population in the world with 3,080,000 individuals as of 2015 estimation by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. It is still increasing due to conservation efforts and the extinction of its main predator, the Grey wolf, over a century ago.