Its popularity is catching up with Kumamon’s (the Kumamoto bear)! Meet the mascot of Nara Prefecture in Japan who will show you the city’s beautiful sights.

By: Little Traveler

Ever sinceKumamotoBear became hugely popular,Japanwas immediately swept up in a mascot craze. One of the most popular mascots recently isNaraPrefecture’s flying dog named Yuki Maru.NaraPrefecture’s Wang Temple Town earlier released a promotional video in which an adorable white dog that can fly strolls through the sky, taking viewers on a tour ofNaraPrefecture’s scenery.

Wang Temple Town itself was originally an obscure little town, but thanks to this dog — Yuki Maru, the beloved pet of Prince Shotoku, a historical figure — it has suddenly caught the attention of tourists. In fact, after his death, Yuki Maru was buried in Wang Temple Town, making him somewhat of a guardian deity of the city.

In the video, Yuki Maru takes the form of a drone, and the production team even carefully designed moving legs to guide viewers on a tour of the entire city and its attractions, including Daruma Temple, Hibata Shrine, and the summit of Meishin Mountain. What’s special is that the “Yuki Maru drone” featured in the promotional video isn’t a computer graphic, but an actual working model, so you might just see Yuki Maru flying above you the next time you visitNaraPrefecture.

Related Reading

[Featured Travelogue] This Temple with Such Beautiful Moss Is Actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site

[Featured Travelogue] Nara’s Todai-ji Temple in Japan: Beware of Deer Attacks