Have you ever heard of Nara, in Japan? If you haven’t, just google “nara” or “nara japan”, and you will see that the main attraction of the city is its deers walking freely everywhere. Of course, there’s more to Nara than just the deers, but it’s a good reason to stop there for at least a day.
Deers in Nara
How To Interact With The Deers
Yup, that curious nose might be one of the first things you see in Nara! Deers wander around the city and are used to tourists giving them food, so they won’t hesitate to come to see you. Be careful not to have any food in your bag that they can grab. I have found that deers in Nara are quite gentle, but I guess it depends on the deer. Those in Miyajima were much more daring and they were biting on the maps of tourists getting out of the boat. In Miyajima and Nara, you usually can buy special food to give them, so don’t give them anything.
Be respectful and remember that they are animals, not toys. In my experience, you can take pictures with the deers in the city, but those in the forest were more skittish and I had to move slow to get their photo.
The Story Behind The Deers Of Nara
Located in the Nara park, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine is dedicated to a deity called Takemikazuchi. The legend says that he was a god of thunder and that he traveled to Nara in the 700s. When he appeared on the top of a mountain, he was riding a white deer.
After that, the deers were considered messengers of the gods and decreed sacred. Their status was even codified into law: until the 1600s, hurting a deer was punishable by death. On the other hand, seeing one alive was considered a good omen and you would bow to them to show how honored you were to meet them.
There are several stories about deers bringing luck and joy to Nara. Today, their status has been lowered, but they are still considered a living National Treasure.
The Tōdai-ji Temple
The Nandaimon Gate
After passing by a few small shrines, I arrived at the Nandaimon Gate and was very impressed by its aspect. It looks ancient and venerable. It’s the main gate to the Tōdai-ji temple. A typhoon destroyed the original one, and this gate is a “new” one that was completed in 1203. Usually, I prefer colourful places, but this one has something majestic that fascinates me.
The Daibutsuden
What I remember most from the Tōdai-ji temple is the Daibutsuden (Big Buddha Hall). The building houses a giant statue of Buddha (Daibutsu). With a height of 15 meters, it is one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha. Maybe, because I’m attracted to shiny things, I was more interested in his Bodhisattvas that are golden.
Other statues got my attention in this temple, like the one of Koumokuten. Looking fierce and royal, this wooden statue looks at you like you are nothing compared to its power. It’s not that surprising when you know that Koumokuten is one of the Four Guardian Kings sent from Heaven to protect Buddha.
Going Through Buddha’s Nostril
In the temple, a square hole was carved in one of the great wooden pillars. The hole is the same size as one of the nostrils on the giant bronze Buddha statue, and if you can go through it, you will achieve enlightenment. It’s not for everybody, and adults rarely fit.
I spent some time looking at people trying to squeeze through the hole and most of them succeeded. Since there was a long queue, I didn’t try. I’ll have to reach enlightenment another way.
Another Creepy Statue
Near the entrance of the Daibutsuden, there is a wooden statue with a red cape and hat. I find it quite scary. If you look on the wooden plate under it, you can read that the statue represents Binzuru, one of the sixteen arahats, who were disciples of Buddha. He is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult powers (no wonder he’s scary). The legend says that if a part of your body is hurting, you should rub the same part on the statue to be cured.
Wandering In Temples And In The Forest In Nara
A Relaxing Break
Lots of temples and shrines in Nara. All of them surrounded by nature. Visiting them was soothing and peaceful. Spotting deers, counting lanterns, climbing stairs, getting a little bit lost… I enjoyed all of it. I recommend the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Cherry Trees blossoming
The weather was not great in Nara and the grey skies didn’t do justice to the flowers. However, I still could enjoy beautiful sceneries and the pink and white colouring the trees.
That’s it for Nara, I hope that you liked reading about the city and that the pictures made you want to discover Japan. 💕 🌸
To see more photos of Japan, you can visit the gallery Japan.
