Tobihino
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kintetsu-Nara Station · 15 min walk (Kintetsu Nara Line)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 20–40 min
- Best time to go
- Early morning around 09:00 in summer or 10:00 in winter, timed with the seasonal Shikayose deer-calling ceremonies before mid-day tourist crowds gather
About
Tobihino is a serene, sprawling meadow within Nara Park, famous as the setting for the traditional 'Shikayose' deer-calling ceremony. Unlike the busier temple areas, this expansive grassy slope offers a peaceful retreat where you can watch herds of sacred deer graze against a backdrop of ancient woods. It is the perfect spot for a quiet morning stroll, offering beautiful misty views and a more natural, uncrowded encounter with Nara's famous wildlife.
What Japanese guides note
Tobihino belongs to the consecrated grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where shrine rules require visitors to maintain decorum and strictly prohibit drone flights. The resident deer are wild animals protected as natural monuments; touching newborn fawns or feeding them picnic items outside approved deer crackers disrupts their digestive ecology. The clearing connects the main Kasuga Taisha approach to the wooded trails of Asajigahara and Ukimido Pavilion, making it an easy scenic transition along foot routes.
Details from local sources
- Tobihino is legally sacred sanctuary grounds belonging directly to Kasuga Taisha Shrine rather than municipal parkland, and operating recreational drones or conducting unauthorized filming is strictly prohibited. [source]
- The Shikayose deer-calling ceremony began in 1892 during the dedication rite of the deer enclosure using a brass bugle, rather than descending from ancient court ritual. [source]
- The sacred flame that ignites the annual Wakakusa Yamayaki mountain burning is drawn from the Kasuga no Otondo rite held at Tobihino on the fourth Saturday of January, where an ancient-garbed procession carries it to Mount Wakakusa. [source]
Insider Tip
Visit at 10:00 AM on select winter/summer mornings to witness the French horn call that summons dozens of deer bounding from the woods.
Frequently asked
When is the Shikayose deer-calling ceremony held?
Public Shikayose takes place on select weekend and holiday mornings during summer (09:00) and winter (10:00), organized by the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation. Outside these designated seasonal dates, the horn ceremony operates strictly on a paid reservation basis, meaning visitors cannot view it on typical off-schedule mornings.
Can visitors fly drones or conduct costume shoots at Tobihino?
No. Because Tobihino forms part of the sacred sanctuary grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine rather than municipal parkland, flying unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and unauthorized commercial or cosplay photography are strictly prohibited across the entire precinct to safeguard deer welfare and maintain the dignity of the shrine.
What is the best transit route to reach Tobihino?
Board the Nara City Loop bus from either JR Nara Station or Kintetsu-Nara Station and alight at the Kasuga Taisha Omotesando bus stop, which sits directly beside the meadow. Visitors traveling entirely on foot can reach Tobihino in approximately 15 minutes walking east from Kintetsu-Nara Station.
Our Nara walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
