Nandaimon Gate

Our trip was really nice and we pet lots of animals. We tried to find food but we didn't find any. The entry for the statue is 800Yen for adult and 400 Yen for children but you have to pay in Cash. We had no cash so we didn't get to see it. The ATMs were a long walk away. We didn't need tickets to enter the park with the deer.

Final stop in Nara: Todai-ji Temple, the true 'Holy Land' for every deer lover and, of course, the playground of Nokotan! 🦌⛩️ Standing right in front of the massive Nandaimon Gate, I finally reached the spot where Nokotan was introduced to the world. It’s the iconic backdrop that defines Nara in Shika no Ko Nokonoko Koshitantan—a perfect blend of ancient spiritual grandeur and the chaotic energy of our favorite 'Deer-human.' While Todai-ji is famous for its Great Buddha, for a fan of the series, this place is all about the 'Nokotan vibe.' Seeing the real deer roaming around the temple gates, bowing for crackers (or chasing you for them), makes the anime’s comedy feel like a daily reality here. I might not have antlers like Nokotan, but standing here where she stood, surrounded by her 'kin' at one of Japan’s most sacred sites, is the perfect way to wrap up this pilgrimage. Nara truly is a place where legends and memes meet! 🦌🍘✨

Huge place and need a lot of walking. Deer cracker is a good experience but be warn as they sometimes bite and become a little agressive if you do not give them.

The Great South Gate is the main gate of Tōdai-ji. The original, erected during the Nara period, was destroyed by a typhoon during the Heian period. The present structure, which dates to the Kamakura period, was built using what is known as the “Daibutsu style.” A type of construction based upon Sung Chinese models, it was newly introduced to Japan by Chōgen, the monk responsible for restoring Tōdai-ji, at the end of the twelfth century. The ridgepole was raised in 1199 and the structure was completed in 1203 along with the statues of the guardian dieties, the Two Ni-ō housed in the gate. The gate with its double hip-and-gable roof is five bays wide and two bays deep. Originally there were three pairs of doors. The eighteen giant pillars that support the roof measure 19.058 meters and the entire structure rises 25.46 meters above the stone plinth on which it rests. The Great South Gate is the largest temple entrance gate in Japan, suitable in scale to the Great Buddha Hall. The two muscular guardians in the Great South Gate, commonly known as the “Ni-ō (Two Kings) of Tōdai-ji,” are monumental works said to have been sculpted in just sixty-nine days under the direction of the sculptors Unkei and Kaikei. Both statues measure just over 8.4 meters in height.

We didn't even get in, the queue was so so long, there were so many people!!! Probably because it was 13am on a holiday (mountain day) week but it wasn't very inviting. I'm sure the whole temple is amazing and a great experience but not when there are so many tourists. And its hard to say when there are none - its Nara The wait would be about an hour just to buy tickets

Very grand temple with so many deers around. We enjoy feeding the deers who always hungry and asked for more biscuits. Don't forget to buy the biscuits from souvenir stores outside and buy a lot so you can feed more deers. Hide your biscuits if you don't want them to bite and push you around! :)

We arrived at Tōdai-ji’s Nandaimon Gate around 6:30 AM, and it was wonderfully quiet with no crowds at all. The massive wooden gate looked even more impressive in the soft morning light. It felt peaceful and calm — a perfect time to enjoy the historic atmosphere. A few kind local ladies were already sweeping up deer droppings, keeping the area clean. The deer were calm and not pushy at all. It was nice to take photos without people in the background, and we could really appreciate the size and beauty of the gate. Highly recommended to come early if you want a quiet and relaxing experience before the tourists arrive.

Peaceful, charming, and full of history! Nara is an incredible place to visit, just a short trip from Kyoto. The highlight for me was definitely the friendly deer roaming freely around Nara Park – they bow to you and are so gentle! Todai-ji Temple is awe-inspiring, especially the giant Buddha statue inside. The whole town has a calm and relaxing atmosphere with beautiful nature and well-preserved historical sites. It’s perfect for a day trip. Don’t forget to try some local snacks and buy deer cookies to feed the deer. A unique and unforgettable experience!