Deer, Senbei, and Our Gentle Distance — A Lesson from Nara

When you visit Nara, you might be surprised to see deer 🦌 walking freely through the town.

One of the most popular experiences is feeding them “deer senbei” (deer crackers).

Offer a cracker, and the deer bows to you — a small, magical moment unique to Nara.

But this peaceful scene is built upon more than 1,000 years of mutual trust between people and deer.

🙏 Deer Are Sacred in Nara

In Japan, deer are not just wild animals — they are considered messengers of the gods.

According to legend, a god once arrived in Nara riding a white deer.

Since then, the deer in Nara have been seen as sacred beings and are protected as National Natural Monuments.

That’s why they are allowed to walk freely among people, living in harmony with the town.

🍘 About Deer Senbei and the Bow

You can buy “deer crackers” at stalls in the park.

These crackers are made just for deer — they are not for human consumption.

(❗ Never feed them bread, snacks, or anything else.)

Strangely enough, when you offer a cracker, many deer will bow to you.

This behavior is not trained — the deer have learned it naturally over time by interacting with humans.

In Japan, a bow is a way of showing respect and gratitude.

That simple exchange between you and a deer is a beautiful, wordless expression of kindness.

🆘 A Growing Problem: Violence Toward the Deer

Unfortunately, in recent years, there have been increasing reports of tourists behaving aggressively toward the deer.

• ❌ Hitting, kicking, or pushing them
• ❌ Yelling, chasing, or scaring them
• ❌ Feeding them trash or human food
• ❌ Forcing physical contact (grabbing their horns, pulling their bodies)

These actions cause stress to the deer, and some have started to avoid humans or even become aggressive in return.

What’s worse, such behavior can break the centuries-old trust between humans and nature that makes Nara so special.

🌿 The Japanese Way: Respecting All Life

In Japanese culture, animals and nature are not seen as tools or toys —

They are part of a larger spiritual world, deserving of respect, space, and peace.

True kindness means not touching, not chasing, not yelling.

It means observing gently, letting the deer come to you — or not — on their own terms.

🙏 Respect through distance is a core value in Japan.

🎬 Have You Seen Princess Mononoke?

In Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, there is a mysterious creature called the Forest Spirit, or Shishigami.

By day, it appears as a gentle deer; by night, a powerful god-like being that gives and takes life.

Director Hayao Miyazaki was reportedly inspired by the deer of Nara, who walk peacefully among humans.

To him, they symbolized the ancient relationship between people and nature in Japan.

The deer in Nara aren’t just animals — they are living symbols of harmony.

💭 What You Can Do

If you’re planning to visit Nara, please help protect this beautiful relationship:

• ✅ Feed them only official deer crackers
• ✅ Keep a calm and respectful distance
• ❌ Don’t hit, touch, or chase them
• ✅ Enjoy their presence — even from afar

Your small act of kindness helps preserve a thousand years of tradition.

Let’s ensure the deer of Nara can continue to trust and coexist with us.

🧡 Final Thought

When a deer bows to you, and you bow back with a smile —

No words are spoken, but something meaningful passes between you.

That’s not just a moment. That’s culture.

Please help us protect it.