Saturday, 27 September 2014

Oh deers...

Feeding the deers at Nara Park has become a traveler's favorite, with crackers easily purchased on the side of the street. Funny note, if you bow to a deer, the deer will most likely bow back to you. Well, they might bow to you even if you don't. When they do, you are expected to feed them. That is the unwritten contract formed between the deers and the throngs of visitors that came before you.

(You're surrounded! Give it up and back away!)

The deers gained their sacred status after a visit from Takemikazuchi-No-Mikoto, the god of warriors (among other traits) and one of the four gods of the Kasuga Shrine, when he came riding on a white deer. From that moment on it was considered a capital offense punishable by death to kill one of those deers - the last such offense was recorded in 1637. The sacred status of the deers was stripped away after the Second World War, but they officially gained the National Treasure designation.

(Some of the many deers of this park)

When you are done feeding the deers - or being assaulted by them, depending on how you see it - you will most likely want to go have a look at the Buddhist Temple Todai-ji (listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site) and the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Your walk will take you along beautiful sceneries and, if you are feeling up to it, 3422 meters above sea level to the top of Mt. Wakakusa-yama for a magnificent view of your surroundings.

(The gates of the shrine)

(Lion guarding the site)

(Sacred lanterns lining the way)

Nara Park is located in the center of Nara, which makes it easily accessible by public transport.

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