Intelligent Shika at Nara Deer Park

In Nara, one will find thousand of deers surrounding Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha, the gardens, and the hillside.

In the past they were regarded as messengers of God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBg-MrPUVEE&feature=related

The deers are wild ones but quite tame actually.
In every October there is ceremony to cut their horns by the priests.

The deer will bow to visitors when it asks for feeding.
There is a biscuit called "Shika Sembei" which is meant to feed them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgdviZbszKs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT6WUv_Z41E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dam15ywnQ1w&feature=related

Here is the view of Nara Deer Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfXqcOKg0Xo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpwHGmrYnms&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kKbGHLa4J8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXnWwKdjNE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEHZriXttfw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPiTK1oLUY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrGRZQXIEro&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYAZrhteG3k&feature=related (Kasuga Taisha)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fcXckckPhY&feature=related (Nigatsudo)

Here is the catch, the deer is intelligent that they could even cross the road at the zebra cross.
These videos in youtube taken by various persons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iClXNpiutT4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tu6WoHJlPk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X11Bi20ddwQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJqUte4qCU8&feature=related


Fyi, Todaiji has been rebuilt, and it was downsized 30% of its original size.
The great Buddha statue is located at Daibutsuden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b0Ok2Mamd0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROtGHT3A1sg&feature=related
Tōdai-ji (東大寺 Tōdai-ji or Eastern Great Temple), is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden) is the largest wooden building in the world, and houses Japan's largest statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu (大仏) or Big Buddha.
Inside there, you could buy a roof tile and written your name. The stall keeper informed me that is meant for the renovation purpose.

For the sunset view, it is best to view from the balcony of Nigatsudo. And you could view the Nara city from there.


I am really impressed with the magnificent Todaiji, the beautiful Nigatsudo, and its tamed deers.
I put them in my painting which I painted on Christmas Day 2011.

Due to the time limit, I did not tour the rest of Nara Deer Park (Nara Museum, Isuien Garden, Horyuji Temple, Kasuga Taisha) as well as the city area.
I do hope I could visit Japan again