As someone who’s basically a certified Deer Master in Nara, let me give you a warning: deer are not the gentle forest creatures you think they are. They’re thugs in disguise.
They bow politely—yes, they actually bow—to tourists holding deer crackers (senbei), but don’t be fooled. That’s just the setup. The moment they see you’ve got senbei, they’ll headbutt you from behind, shove their noses into your pockets, and chew on your bags until you hand it over. Total chaos.
Ironically, the deer are much calmer and easier to pet when you don’t have any senbei. So if you’re visiting Nara, do yourself a favor and skip buying the crackers
by kuil09
AloJapan.com