Shika (deer in Japanese, written シカ or 鹿) are protected in Nara ever since the oldest times. In the medieval period, the killing of a shika was a crime punishable by death.

Today, more than 1200 cute shika are roaming free through the city, alongside people and cars, interested only in the tourists who are offering them deer-crackers (shika-senbei) and completely ignoring everyone else…

Shika deer, Nara

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Simply beautiful Japanese scenes, Sunset at Fushimi Inari