The Magic of Nara: Japan's Deer Haven

By Charlotte Hellemans

Through my journey in Japan, I had the opportunity to take a captivating detour to the city of Nara, near Kyoto. This charming city is a treasure of natural beauty and cultural museums, offering a truly unique experience that leaves an indelible memory on anyone’s journey.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of Nara is the harmonious connection of humans and fallow deer that roam freely throughout the city. As my family and I stepped down the car, we arrived, we were face to face with a fallow deer, wondering if we had any food for them. Majestic deer, with their elegant antlers and calm nature, roamed freely in parks, pathways and even in shops, seamlessly merging the natural and urban landscape. This has become a true defining feature of Nara, with the harmony that radiates throughout the city.

The city of Nara doesn't stop at its deer population, it extends to its spiritual treasures as well. The heart of this city holds a religious masterpiece; the world's largest wooden sculpture, a breathtaking sculpture. An immense wooden statue of Buddha is hidden in it, which communicates true harmony and peace. 

As I approached this monumental creation, I felt like the smallest human on earth. Indeed, when we were far from the monument we were seeing a huge difference between the people and the monument, everyone felt so small. The huge dimensions of the wooden statue were even overwhelming, its details meticulously carved into the wood over centuries, is an impressive work. The serene expression on Buddha's face radiates a profound sense of peace, inviting visitors to pause and reflect on the world that surrounds us. On top of that, the place invites us to give some coins to have a stick of incense to purify us. 

Surrounded by the tranquil ambience of Nara, we found ourselves immersed in a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and historical significance. We had to find a place to eat lunch. The city offers beautiful and a large range of food, which was very nice to taste. 

Visiting this city is a memorable experience that I will never forget. Even though the fallow deer seemed very nice and cute, when we were giving them some food and had been attacked a couple of times, they tried to eat our clothes which was very funny to experience. 

If you have the chance to visit Kyoto, don’t forget to stop by Nara, which is a 40 min by train and completely worth it!