8D7N - Osaka Kyoto Japan Day 3 | Nara Park, Todaiji Temple and eat Kyoto style beef cutlet rice

From Fushimi Inari, we made our way down to Nara Park via JR train. Once we reached the JR Nara train station, there are shuttle buses to Nara park and they even have deer printed on the covers of the buses' seat. How cute is that!

The bus ride to Nara Park is quite fast and soon before you know it, you would be able to spot deers from your bus ride and naturally know where to stop. Nara Park is home to hundreds of freely romaing deer. After my visit, my friends were also asking where the deers were savages. Rumours that during Covid, the deers had no food and so were very fierce? Anywhere, my answer is they are all very mild and lazy looking. Unless you have a packet of deer biscuits, then a few will start to follow you around.

There is a row of souvenir shops just outside Nara Park where you can buy "poop" looking chocolate and biscuits to feed the deer. 

Pro-tip: In my opinion, if you really want close up shots with the deer, just buy the packet of deer biscuits and they will all come running after you.

one packet of biscuits to feed the deer costs 200Yen.

Above: My closest encounter with a deer, only made possible with hubs trying to feed it with a biscuit.

These deers are considered messengers of the gods. Nara's over 1000 deer have become a symbol of the city and have even been designated as a national treasure. 

Remember to bow to these cute deers and they will bow back to you!

It was drizzling slightly but it is really very fine rain in Kyoto. Singaporeans like us as so used to torrential tropical rains that this sort of drizzle is really nothing at all! We made our way to Todaiji temple. To be honest, today had been such a long day where we started early at Kiyomizu Dera Temple, walked ninenzaka, sanenzaka, climbed up Fushimi Inari, by evening time, don't say the kids, even I myself was quite tired and had little energy to enjoy the view of Todaiji Temple.

620pm: our frantic search of the famous Mochi store at Nakatanidou. Finally found it. This famous mochi shop is located in the heart of Nara City and specialises in yomogi mochi. Despite close to closing times, there were still people hovering around the store to buy leftover mochi! and we were one of these people. hah!

One mochi costs ¥130, and payment is cash only. You can also buy them in larger boxes, and if you buy a pack of 8 or more the price per mochi is slightly cheaper. 

630pm: Quick bite at Melon de Melon.

9pm Dinner: Gyukatsu Kyoto (beef cutlet)

Hubs found another franchise shop inside a building that sells electronic goods. 

it was so good that the kids finished their beef cutlet almost immediately.