A Day in Nara, Osaka: Deer, Buddhas, and Sunshine with the Worldschoolers

We had an absolute blast of a day exploring Nara, Japan’s first permanent capital, and it turned out to be one of those memory making kind of days you will look back on with a grin. The sun was shining, the temperature was sitting at a lovely 21 degrees, and we were off to meet up with our worldschooling group for a little adventure in Nara Park and the famous Todai ji Temple.

First stop: Nara Park, where the deer roam free (and hungry!)

If you’ve never heard of Nara Park before, picture a huge, leafy space right in the heart of the city, filled with over 1,000 freely roaming sika deer. These deer are considered sacred, once believed to be messengers of the gods in Shinto belief. These days, they’re protected as national treasures and they know it. They wander the park like they own the place, politely bowing for treats (yep, really) before cheekily chasing you if you take too long handing over the deer biscuits (shika senbei) sold by local vendors.

Georgia was in her element giggling away, feeding the deer and even copying their little bows for extra effect. It was a proper wholesome moment. Dotty took a little while to warm up to the idea. She stayed close to us, clutching her snacks like they were gold, giving the deer a cautious wave from a safe distance. Can’t blame her, really some of those deer can get a bit cheeky when they know you’ve got food.

We wandered through the park with the group, sharing stories, snacks, and dodging the occasional nibbly deer nose one bit Ali on the bum looked like a juicy snack I think. atmosphere was relaxed and friendly families and travellers from all over the world coming together in one of the most serene spots in Japan. It felt like we were part of something bigger, and that’s a nice feeling when you’re living life on the road.

Next up Todai ji Temple the home to the Great Buddha, and by gosh it’s massive!

After the park, we walked over to Todai ji Temple, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and an absolute must see when you’re in Nara. The main hall, Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and it’s only a reconstruction at two-thirds of the original size!

Inside sits the Daibutsu a colossal 15 metre tall bronze Buddha statue that honestly takes your breath away when you see it. The scale, the detail, and the peaceful energy in that space… it’s something special. few moments, silence was created we were just staring up in awe.

Georgia asked questions about the temple and the statue when it was built, why it was made, what it all meant. (Fun fact, The original statue was completed in 752 AD, and over 2.6 million people helped fund and build it!) We chatted about Buddhism in a kid friendly way, and it turned into a bit of an unexpected history lesson on the move.

After wandering back through the temple grounds and grabbing a few drinks and snacks, we said goodbye to the worldschooling crew. G and D were pretty knackered, and to be fair, so were we but in that good, contented kind of way that comes from a day well spent.

All in all, it was a top day, beautiful weather, great company, a bit of wildlife, some culture, and a few giggles along the way. Georgia went to bed still talking about the deer, and Dotty? I’m not sure she was convinced, but she did gave one a wave from the safety of the pushchair on the way out so we will call that progress!

Oh and to finish off an amazing day we had an Indian for dinner and they served amazing veggy food for Ali too, so all in all a great day!!!