nara-dataNara Tourism Data Portal by INVOLVE
← Back to articles奈良を知る

Q.How many deer are there in Nara Park?

Published 2026-06-11

Answer

1,687 as of July 16, 2026 — up 222 from the previous year and a new record since comparable surveys began in 1953. The total comprises 411 males, 990 females and 286 fawns.

Counted by hand, every July

The deer population is surveyed every July by the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation. The count as of July 16, 2026 found 1,687 deer — 411 males, 990 females and 286 fawns. That was 222 more than the 2025 total of 1,465 (315 males, 816 females and 334 fawns), setting another record since comparable surveys began in 1953.

1,687deer as of July 16, 2026 (record high)

Since 1953of comparable annual surveys

+222increase from the previous year

A millennium as sacred deer, 68 years as a National Monument

Reverence for Nara's deer dates to the founding of Kasuga Taisha in 768. According to the shrine's official account, the deity came to Mt. Mikasa from Hitachi Province (Kashima) riding a white deer. This tradition led to the deer being protected as sacred animals. In 1957 they were designated a National Natural Monument.

Behind the numbers: the challenge of coexistence

Behind the record high lie harder numbers. The FY2025 survey recorded 140 deer deaths, including 36 caused by traffic accidents. With tourists and deer increasing at the same time, the census data reflects a real coexistence challenge, not just cuteness.

Datasets behind this article

Sources