Submitted by Madison Ferriola on the 2020 winter session program in Japan sponsored by the Department of Psychology…
Nara is one of the oldest towns in Japan and is home to over a thousand deer. Kofukuji Temple is a Buddhist temple that was founded in 669. The temple welcomes the domesticated deer in the temple as well as all around Nara. There is a legend that a god arrived at the temple riding a deer and the deer are now regarded as sacred. The deer that we got to see are trained so that when they bow to you, you reward them with a biscuit. Our day trip to Nara was very surreal. There were deer roaming the street and they would pass you on the sidewalk. I bought biscuits and made lots of deer friends that let me pet them which is what I wish I could do to the deer in Delaware, but unfortunately they just run away.
