October 10, 2026 ~ Nara, Japan
We originally considered either taking an organized tour from Kyoto to Nara, or hiring a private guide/driver to take us. But after doing a little research and watching a YouTube video we decided that we could easily do this day trip on our own.
Nara is less than 30 miles south, and easily reached by a short 35 minute train ride.
“Long before Kyoto became Japan’s capital, Nara—then known as Heijō-kyō—served as the imperial capital from 710 to 784. Modeled after the Chinese capital of Chang’an, it became a flourishing center of government, art, and Buddhism. Many of its remarkable temples date from this era, including Tōdai-ji, whose immense bronze Buddha was dedicated in 752. Today, Nara’s historic temples and shrines preserve the legacy of this formative chapter in Japanese history.” ~ Rune
Yes, the history was a draw for me, but even more so were the deer!
Nara’s deer have a special connection to a local shrine. According to legend, the deity Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara riding a white deer when the shrine was founded in 768. Deer consequently became revered as messengers of the gods and were protected for centuries.
Today more than 1300 deer live in and around Nara Park. They are still considered sacred and have free rein to roam wherever they want. Since they are protected, they have no fear of people, are not shy and simply move about and enjoy a pat or scratch. If you want to feed them, a stack of four deer crackers can be purchased throughout the park for a small fee.
even when the male deer keeps hitting me with his head. I’m glad his horns had been clipped.
Be warned that the deer can get rather aggressive when you have the crackers in your hand so be sure to supervise any small children.
And yes, with typical polite Japanese manners, they do bow in return.
manage to get a couple bows, even without paying with a cracker.
But there is more to see here in Nara than just the deer. One of the outstanding sites was Todai-ji Temple.
Todai-ji means “Great Eastern Temple” and dates back to the 8th century. One needs to pass through several gates and go past a large octagonal lantern to reach the Great Buddha Hall which houses an enormous bronze Buddha.
According to their official website, “The Buddha’s ears alone are more than eight feet long, and each eye measures over three feet across!”
There is also a hole in one of the pillars that is the same size as one of the Buddhas nostrils. Supposedly, if you can crawl through the hole it brings good luck. I was more interested in the long line of people who were waiting to crawl through! I decided to bypass the line, not wanting to risk getting stuck…
Lunch today was a delicious crepe galette, filled with cheese and roasted vegetables.
The Isuien Garden is a peaceful, traditional Japanese garden.
“Its name means “garden founded on water,” reflecting the ponds at its heart. It combines two gardens created more than two centuries apart: a front garden dating to the seventeenth century and a larger rear garden completed in 1899.” ~ Rune
As you stroll past the ponds and stone lanterns, cross water on stepping stones and glimpse inside a teahouse, one can’t help but be impressed by the beauty and transported back in time.
Naramachi is Nara’s historic merchant neighborhood, with narrow lanes, traditional wooden townhouses called machiya, small shops, cafés, and craft stores.
We visited a Naramachi Traditional House with tatami mat flooring, a tea room and kitchen.
A surprise find was a toy museum where we were invited in, not just to see their collection, but to actually PLAY with the toys. There were several that brought back tender memories from my childhood. Such an unexpected treat…
It was shown on Wikipedia as a Gee-haw Whammy Diddle. Jan still remembered that by changing hand positions, you could get the propeller to spin in different directions.
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I’m grateful that the deer are still protected and allowed to roam freely. Yes, one did need to be mindful of where you stepped on occasion, but a small price to pay for these beautiful creatures. And watching them bow in response to either asking for or receiving a cracker still makes me smile. Overall, Nara was a treat to experience and I definitely recommend it as a day trip from Kyoto.
