Nara's deer are gentle and adorable, but be cautious of "attacking herds" when feeding them rice crackers.

▲ Deer in Nara are regarded as messengers of the gods and have been cherished and protected since ancient times, which is why they are not afraid of people. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Recently, Takeshi Kaneshiro starred in an EVA Air promotional ad where he was seen cycling through a sea of green, making the "Heavenly Road" in Chihshang, Taitung even more popular. The video also featured Japan’s ancient city of Nara, including footage of Kaneshiro personally feeding the cute deer. However, anyone who has visited Nara Park knows that once you’re holding “deer crackers,” the normally scattered deer will come running to snatch the food and surround you.

Nara is a cultural ancient capital with a history of thousands of years, home to World Heritage sites such as Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Another highlight of Nara is its deer, which are considered messengers of the gods. Since ancient times, they have been cherished and protected, so they are not afraid of people—this also attracts many tourists eager to see the adorable creatures.%亥亥旱阄铱锤?嗄瘟夹÷拐掌?/span>

Nara Park is approximately 4 kilometers long from east to west and 2 kilometers wide from north to south, with around a thousand deer roaming freely throughout the park. You can often see deer strolling unhurriedly along the paths, especially the heart-melting sight of fawns nestling close to their mothers. These deer are not afraid of humans, and you can even get close to or gently pet them. However, they are still wild animals, so you must stay alert—angry deer may charge or bite.

▲ Once tourists hold out “deer crackers,” the normally gentle and adorable deer will immediately swarm around you. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Many visitors to Nara are drawn to feed the cute deer, and most end up buying “deer crackers.” But the moment you hold one, the previously docile deer can suddenly transform into an “attacking herd,” surrounding you. Deer that don’t get crackers may even butt you with their heads or nibble at your clothes. Occasionally near Todai-ji’s Omotesando, you’ll see girls and children running while shouting for help, with a pack of snack-craving deer chasing behind. Also, these deer will eat paper—keep your brochures and itineraries safe, or they might snatch them right out of your hand.

As for the heartwarming scene in Kaneshiro’s commercial where he feeds a deer, it was likely shot after clearing the area—otherwise, other deer wouldn’t have missed that “feeding opportunity.” To capture cute feeding moments in Nara, try approaching a lone deer. Additionally, the cracker stalls near Todai-ji are always surrounded by watchful deer, so if you plan to feed them, buy your crackers elsewhere first (there are plenty of places in Nara that sell them) and then head to another part of the park.

▲ The little deer are truly incredibly cute. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

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