Nara Park to increase punishments for harming deer following incidents
Last Updated on April 11, 2025
Following incidents that have seen visitors to Nara Park involved in cases of acts of violence towards its resident deer, authorities are tightening up punishments to deter such acts.
The act of causing harm to the Nara deer has now been officially added to the list of prohibited activities within Nara Park, located in Nara City.
According to information published on the official website of Nara Prefecture, the new regulation took effect from the 1st of April 2025.
Under the provisions of the Cultural Properties Protection Act, legal penalties are imposed on individuals who engage in actions that “destroy, damage, or cause to decay” designated natural monuments.
The deer in Nara Park are designated as a national cultural property of Japan and as such the official announcement also explicitly points out that the acts of kicking or hitting Nara’s deer “may constitute a violation of the provisions outlined in the Law for Protection of Cultural Properties and may therefore result in the imposition of legal penalties.”
Anyone breaking this act would typically face a fine, or in more extreme cases they could be subject to imprisonment.
For foreign nationals found to be breaking any law in Japan, the punishment could include deportation and the refusal of future entry to the country.
According to the official announcement issued by the Nara Prefectural Government, a video depicting individuals kicking and striking the deer that inhabit Nara Park was widely disseminated across various social media platforms in July of the year 2024.
In direct response to these concerning acts, the prefectural authorities have explained their decision to enhance the protective measures in place for the deer and have consequently revised a portion of the operational guidelines based on the Enforcement Regulations of the Prefectural Urban Park Ordinance.
To strengthen the protective measures, the announcement clarifies that even actions that do not necessarily result in “loss, damage, or decay” to the deer will now be subject to regulation.
The actions covered by the new regulations will include harmful acts, which are precisely defined as “unnecessarily inflicting violence that may cause external injury, or forcing them to commit acts that may cause such injury, and acts equivalent thereto.”
In an interview conducted on the 10th of April, an official spokesperson from the Nara Park Office stated that they have been consistently urging visitors and the general public to refrain from engaging in direct physical contact with the deer for a considerable period of time.
This long-standing recommendation is primarily due to the inherent risk of various potential accidents, such as the transmission of ticks infesting the deer to humans or instances of the deer biting people.
The Nara Park Office is actively calling upon tourists and visitors to experience and enjoy the natural beauty and cultural significance of Nara Park in a manner that prioritizes both safety and enjoyment for all individuals involved.
With the old regulations being seen as potentially vague, as “loss, damage or decay” could possibly not be proven in some cases, the new regulations explicitly state that harmful actions against the deer are not permitted and anyone engaging in such conduct will be penalised accordingly.
Source: J-Cast