Before You Go to Nara Park: the Deer Rules

Short answer: feed the deer only official deer crackers (shika senbei) — any other food is banned — and when you're out, show your empty palms. They are wild animals and a National Natural Monument; in autumn the stags can charge.

Rules (Nara Prefecture, official)

• Only deer crackers. Feeding deer is prohibited except shika senbei. Sweets, bread, vegetables and leftovers can make them sick.
• No litter — there are no bins in Nara Park. Deer have died after eating trash. Take everything back with you.
• Hold your bags. Deer eat plastic bags, maps and leaflets, and can snag bags on antlers.
• Don't hit or chase them. They are a National Natural Monument.
• Dogs: always on a lead and kept away from deer.

What trips people up

• Injuries: deer can charge, gore, bite or kick. Don't touch them carelessly, and don't let children approach alone.
• Season: in autumn the stags are in rut and in spring mothers protect fawns — both can attack people (Nara Prefecture). November is in the risk period.
• Teasing: holding crackers out without giving them can get you bitten. Deer crowd anyone holding crackers.
• "Deer signal": when your crackers are gone, spread your empty palms in front of them.

Getting there

• Nearest stations named by Nara Prefecture: Kintetsu-Nara Station and JR Nara Station.

Not confirmed by an official source, so left out: cracker price, walking times, Todai-ji hours and fees, lockers. Check on site.

Places: All "before you go" guides · Fushimi Inari · Chureito Pagoda (Mt Fuji view) · Ghibli Museum · teamLab · Shibuya Sky · Senso-ji · Nara deer · Arashiyama · Miyajima · Disney & USJ · Kyoto autumn light-ups