Photographer captures magical photos of deer roaming through cherry blossoms in Japan
Japan’s Nara Park is a major tourist destination, partly because of the well-manicured grounds, stunning monuments, and magical cherry blossoms – but also for the Sika deer who roam freely asking for snacks.
Of course, despite the claims that “nature is healing” the deer are now hungry because of the lack of tourists – in fact they’re so hungry they’ve ended up roaming the streets and searching for food.
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But locals are still allowed in the park, if they stay distanced and wear masks – and many couldn’t stay away during the short but serene cherry blossom season when the trees explode with light pink petals and create a veritable floral wonderland.
It looks almost unreal.
Built in 1880, Nara Park’s 1,200 acres also include waterfalls, Buddhist temples, a Shinto shrine, and the Nara National Museum.
Then, of course, there are the over 1,000 sacred deer, revered as messengers from god in the Shinto religion, but a little naughty and treat-seeking in their Earthly forms. The park really belongs to them.
The deer aren’t always so nice (that’s what happens when people feed wild animals) but no one is allowed to do anything about it. Visitors accept the risk and buy the expected rice crackers at a special stand in the park and let the animals eat from their hands.
This year’s cherry blossom season got extra attention this year because of some magnificent photos shot by local photographer Kazuki Ikeda who was able to do wedding shoots in the park amongst the blooming trees.
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But people are much more interested in the deer frolicking through the flower petals than couples in love.
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Ikeda took a short video of the deer in the park that’s being viewed by nature-lovers everywhere both on Instagram and YouTube.
Ikeda told My Modern Met that he hopes his video will help make viewers feel good during this difficult time.
“The pandemic is exhausting the hearts of people all over the world,” he said. “I hope this video makes people around the world feel at ease.”
The short video simply pans back and forth on a spot where over a dozen deer are congregated.
Commenters said viewing the scene was like being in a dream.
Of course, the deer are perfectly at home in the park year-round, but they look extra-relaxed with the lack of tourists milling about. They don’t even seem to care about the stray photographer.
Of course, the cherry blossoms are now green again – they reach peak bloom earlier in the year, around April 1st.
If you’re hoping to travel to Japan to catch a glimpse of this beautiful park, you’ll have to hope that next year is a better year for travel.
Be sure to scroll down below for the short clip of this special moment.
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Source: Travel & Leisure, @kikiphotoworks via Instagram, My Modern Met, CNN Travel