Nara Park's famous deer might have overstuffed themselves during Japan's Golden Week.

While thousands of tourists from within Japan and around the world flock to Nara to witness the Nara Daibutsu, the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's nearly impossible to do so without being pleasantly distracted by the 1,500 free-roaming deer of Nara Park. In fact, deer often approach visitors in hopes of being rewarded with shika senbei (deer crackers), which are sold in the park, although unruly tourists have recently made this a more dangerous practice than it was once before.

よしながななみさん(@nanamiw)がシェアした投稿 -

Biting may not be a problem in the park after Japan's Golden Week holiday, however, as Japanese illustrator and Twitter user Hitoshi Yoneda (@Brise_Marine) observed recently in a series of comical photos. It seems that an overload of tourists visiting Nara during Golden Week has made the deer's response to crackers...less than enthusiastic.

Source: @Brise_Marine

Source: @Brise_Marine

Source: @Brise_Marine

Source: @Brise_Marine

Yoneda writes that it appears within the first half of Golden Week alone, the deer have become completely unresponsive to the senbei that usually drives them wild with hunger! Perhaps a little cool down period is in order, or at least a different type of treat.


By - Big Neko.