Shika no Tsunokiri (Deer Antler-Cutting Ceremony)
In a 340-year-old Nara ritual, shrine 'seko' wrangle wild stags with ropes inside a wooden arena before a Shinto priest saws off their autumn antlers.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/10/10 03:00 – 2026/10/12
- Where
- Roen Antler-Cutting Arena, Kasuga Taisha, Nara Park（160-1 Kasugano-cho, Nara）
- City
- Nara
- Getting there
- Bus to Kasuga Taisha-mae, then short walk
- Price
- Around ¥1,000 (adults)
- Organizer
- Nara Deer Preservation Foundation / Kasuga Taisha
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Bus to Kasuga Taisha-mae, then short walk Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Around ¥1,000 (adults). Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families
Highlights
- Seko wrangling stags with ropes
- Traditional Shinto antler-cutting
- Held in the historic Roen arena
Background & story
Begun in 1671 to prevent rutting stags from injuring townsfolk and other deer; the antlers are offered to the deity.
Good to know
Held over the Sports Day long weekend; confirm exact dates on the Nara guide site as they shift slightly yearly.