Aside from Kōfuku-ji introduced in the previous post, another popular spot to interact with deer is Tōdai-ji. DouDou feels the deer here are even more “snobbish and fierce” than those at Kōfuku-ji, and you’ll often see some hilarious scenes.
On the path leading to Tōdai-ji, every shop sells deer crackers, and these adorable-looking creatures are all eyeing the delicious crackers hungrily. But just after Golden Week, I heard the “deer lords” have had their fill and aren’t interested anymore.
The deer here roam in herds, begging for food from visitors. I even saw a little girl, shorter than the deer, being surrounded — the scene was quite amusing.
Sorry, I don’t have any deer crackers. Don’t assume they’re just deer and don’t need to be treated politely — if you’re rude to them, they might attack. In 2016, the number of deer attacks hit a record high, with the majority of victims being Chinese tourists. [Click here to read the related news]
Tōdai-ji, the head temple of the Kegon sect, is called “Tōdai-ji” (Eastern Great Temple) because it was built east of Heijō Palace.
The Nandaimon Gate of Tōdai-ji: since deer tend to relieve themselves anywhere, don’t bring deer crackers past the Nandaimon Gate onward — restoring ancient relics is extremely difficult.
The important cultural property: Chūmon Gate.
The national treasure: Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), which has caught fire twice and was rebuilt during the Kamakura and Edo periods respectively. It is the world’s largest wooden structure.
The statue of Kongō Rikishi (Guards of Buddhism).
The statue of Bishamonten (Vaisravana), a god of knowledge and wealth as well as one of the guardians of Buddhism.
The national treasure: The Great Buddha (Vairocana) of Tōdai-ji, casting began in 745, making it over 1,270 years old.
What is commonly referred to as the Great Buddha of Nara is this one.
The important cultural property: Kokūzō Bosatsu (Akasagarbha Bodhisattva) statue.
If you’ve been to the Daibutsuden’s main hall, I believe what impressed you most is the hole beneath the central pillar behind the Buddha statue. Children and adults alike try to squeeze through it. Though many watch, no one takes photos — I felt too awkward to photograph others, so I’ll just document this event in words.
Many people end their Tōdai-ji visit after seeing the Daibutsuden, but there are other parts to explore, such as the Kaidan-in, Kaizandō, Hokkedō, and Nigatsu-dō. I missed the Kaidan-in on the western side of Tōdai-ji, but I did visit the Kaizandō, Hokkedō, and Nigatsu-dō on the eastern side.
One of the most memorable spots is the national treasure Nigatsu-dō, located at a higher elevation.
Few visitors come here, giving off a tranquil and cozy vibe. After leaving the bustling Tōdai-ji (Daibutsuden), it’s nice to enjoy a bit of serenity.
Nigatsu-dō has caught fire three times and was rebuilt in 1669.
The aged wooden pillars and bronze octagonal lanterns truly evoke the beauty of traditional Japan.
Although the general visiting hours for Tōdai-ji are until around 5 PM, Nigatsu-dō is open 24 hours, so some visitors come here to watch the sunset — and I was one of them.
Actually, before enjoying the sunset, I passed by Wakakusa-yama. I heard that if you want to feed deer, the best spot is Wakakusa-yama, not Kōfuku-ji or Tōdai-ji. Unfortunately, I was in a rush, hoping to make it to Kasuga Taisha, but it was already closed, so I ended up returning to Nigatsu-dō to admire this beautiful view.
Tōdai-ji official website (Japanese/English): http://www.todaiji.or.jp/
Having traveled to over 30 countries/regions, lived in Taiwan for a year and a half, spent months traveling and residing in Japan, and worked in Canada in exchange for a two-month aurora experience in the Arctic. Travelogues have been published on U blog, DC fever, likeJapan, now.com, and Travel Bar. Open to various forms of collaboration.
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