The deer are active at all hours of the day, looking for their next handout, but with few people around at night, most of them just rest on the ground.

At night, the famous Sika deer of Nara Park retreat from the high-traffic tourist areas and "cracker zones" to find safety and rest in the more secluded, forested sections of the park. Their primary sanctuary is the Kasuga Taisha Shrine forest, a sprawling, ancient woodland that has been protected for over a millennium. Some deer also congregate in the shadows of the Todai-ji Temple complex or on the slopes of Mount Wakakusa. Unlike their daytime behavior where they actively seek out humans for shika senbei (deer crackers), they become much more wary and quiet after dusk, reverting to their natural instincts as forest-dwelling animals. In 2026, local conservation groups remind visitors that the deer are legally designated "Natural Treasures," and while the park is open 24/7, it is best to leave them undisturbed at night when they are sleeping or ruminating to maintain their health and reduce stress.