Meet Chuchu, our guest travel blogger. Let's experience the ultimate half day stroll in Osaka, feeding cute Bambis and visiting the world's largest wooden structure - Todai-ji Temple!
Feeding Deer in Nara Park
Ever since my visit to the Bambi Hills in Yilan, I've developed a keen interest in deer-feeding activities. During our half-day trip from Kyoto to Osaka, we decided to explore Nara, planning to feed the deer in Nara Park, wander around Todai-ji Temple, and indulge in some delicious Buddha-shaped pudding. It was a leisurely excursion with no specific agenda, but we unexpectedly captured some stunning maple foliage along the way.
Nara Park is a sprawling 660-hectare park, and once you exit the station and follow the crowd, you'll quickly encounter the charming presence of deer. As you walk along the path towards Todai-ji Temple, you'll come across wild deer scattered all around. Witnessing so many deer freely roaming the streets is truly a fascinating and novel experience!
Everywhere you go, you'll come across small vendors selling "shika senbei," a type of deer cracker. They resemble thin puff pastries and emit a delightful fragrance. Not only do they attract the deer, but they also make me tempted to try them myself!
I'm also quite curious why the deer don't run over to eat the vendors' senbei; they're just piled up there, haha!
There's no special trick to feeding the deer; however, if you're taking photos, the key is to offer small amounts multiple times, rather than giving everything at once. Also, try to guide the deer to face the camera from the side to avoid ending up with a bunch of deer bottoms in your pictures, haha!
Like this, you can capture the cute side profile of the deer in photos~
However, the wild deer in Nara are not sika deer. I actually find Taiwan's Formosan sika deer much cuter. The deer in Nara appear to be a bit grayish-brown, and while they aren't smelly, there's a feeling that makes you want to give them a bath, haha!
The bold way to feed them is to just scatter the food on the ground and let the deer help themselves. It seems like they never get full; even with so many people feeding them, they keep on devouring!
The Nara deer are famously gentle; they truly don't fear people and won't attack. They've become quite accustomed to interacting with visitors. Even if you approach them for photos, they won't be scared away. Interestingly, it's me who hesitates to touch them. Whenever they move, I get startled!
Nara Park: Todai-ji Temple
The world's largest wooden structure with a history of over 1200 years, Todai-ji Temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Inside, there is a colossal Buddha statue standing over 15 meters tall, famously known as the Great Buddha of Nara, which is the world's largest bronze Buddha statue.
Todai-ji Temple requires an additional admission ticket to enter. Since we didn't have specific plans to explore the interior, we simply admired the temple from the outside.
With many tourists around and the overcast weather, the photos may lack a bit of vibrancy.
On the contrary, the photos of the maple trees along the way turned out quite beautiful. It's great that these spots aren't crowded, providing a serene backdrop for capturing pleasing landscapes. I personally prefer these secluded corners for a more enjoyable photography experience.
After capturing beautiful photos and satisfying the deer's appetites, it's time to treat yourself to a CREMIA ice cream! It's quite amusing—being in Japan makes you crave ice cream every day!
Finally, can't help but mention, this deer plushie "遷都君" is just too ugly, haha!
