A few years ago, before I began my journey in authentic tourism, I paid a visit to the Nara deer park in Japan, where wild deer famously run freely around the city. At the time, I had so much fun feeding biscuits to the deer, because how often do you get to interact with wildlife?
However, not too long after, I started to feel guilty about the experience. I realized that all the deer I saw in Nara had their antlers cut, and though it’s a 340+ year old tradition, some animal rights groups have called out the practice for being inhumane.
Being an authentic traveler is to positively interact with the local residents and ecosystems of the places we visit, and that includes the animals. With so many types of animal tourism being accepted and legal, we have to question whether we want to be a part of that practice.
Here’s my take on the Nara deer and how it relates back to animal tourism as a whole. Are the deer in Nara, Japan, being treated humanely? Largely, the answer is yes, but there are also some instances (such as with the horn cutting) that may not be so pleasant in our eyes.
What’s With the Horn Cutting on Nara Deer?
When you go to Nara, Japan, you’ll notice that the majority of deer do not have horns. Horn cutting is the practice of removing a deer’s horns when they grow.
Originally, this practice was for sacred reasons, to offer the horns as gifts to Shinto Gods, though it was also a safety precaution so the deer did not hurt one another. Now it’s a bit of a safety precaution for visitors as well. The Nara deer will walk right up to you, and in some cases may even nudge you for biscuits.
Trust me, you do not want to be nudged by a deer with full-fledged antlers.
Does Antler Cutting Hurt Nara Deer?
This begs the question: Does antler cutting hurt deer in Nara, Japan? No, as long as the antlers are fully developed. When antlers grow, they’re covered in a soft, velvety texture that’s full of nerves and blood vessels, but as the antlers reach full size, they become hardened and lose sensation.
Fully-formed deer antlers have no nerves in them and are essentially dead bone. In fact, Nara deer naturally shed their antlers, so cutting them at this stage wouldn’t hurt the deer either.
According to the official Nara tourism site, the antler cutting ceremony takes place publicly at Kasugataisha Shrine and is completed swiftly and humanely, ensuring the deer don’t get hurt.
Is It Okay to Feed the Deer in Nara, Japan?
Yes, it’s okay to feed the deer in Nara, Japan. Rather, it’s encouraged. Throughout the city, you’ll find little kiosks where vendors sell biscuits for the deer. The proceeds of the biscuits go back to medical care for the deer.
Just like some choose to become vegan to encourage humane animal treatment, whereas an animal lover may still enjoy eating meat, it all comes down to personal preference. The choice to visit Nara, Japan, and interact with deer is yours to take.
Some travelers will not like the fact that the deer’s antlers are cut, whereas others may not see a significant issue, as it’s been a practiced tradition for several millennia.
Is Nara a Good Day Trip from Osaka?
Absolutely, Nara is a great day trip. Nara is a quick, 30-minute train ride from Namba Station in Osaka, every foodie’s favorite city in Japan. All you need to do is hop on a Kintetsu-Nara Line train heading eastbound toward Nara.
Don’t worry if you’re traveling with luggage. Once you arrive in Nara (you’ll be in the Kintetsu-Nara Station), you’ll find luggage lockers right as you exit the station.
How Do You Get from Kyoto to Nara?
If you want to make a quick day trip to Nara from Kyoto, all you need to do is take a fast train from Kyoto Station (they leave every 30 minutes). In less than an hour, you’ll be feeding deer biscuits in Nara!
Kyoto, being one of Japan’s most popular tourist spots, is incredibly well-connected to other cities. You can get from Tokyo to Kyoto in just a few hours via bullet train!
