The town of Deer

On the outskirts of Osaka is the small town of Nara, nestled next to a huge park of the friendliest and funniest deer you’d ever hope to meet. Forget animal cafes, these are the real deal, wild yet friendly deer.

You can buy a pack of biscuits fit for their consumption from various vendors in the park for a reasonable ¥150, and as soon as you are spotted with them, the deer will make a beeline (or should I say deerline) for you.

This cheeky fella followed me for at least 10 minutes nudging me, politely inquiring whether the biscuits were for him. So giving in, we shared a picnic on the grassy slopes, discussing the weather and the political climate.

Nara is a great day out from Osaka, but I actually stayed there for a few nights to get the city air out of my lungs. I fancied another mountain climb, and Nara can provide for those with such urges with its own Mt Wakakusa, accessible from Nara park, and after a hot woodland ascent, you are rewarded with a panoramic view of Osaka and Nara, even as far as Kyoto to the north.

After departing Nara, I took a local train to Kyoto to get my final Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo. This section of rail treats you to inspiring views of the mountain country, and I was lucky enough to be treated to a glimpse of the iconic Mt Fuji as I left the west of Japan behind.

Osaka

After Kyoto, I spent a few days in the megacity of Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolis. I was here for the food, the history, and the universal studios. The latter was my first destination after arriving in the city, and it didn’t fail to deliver.

My main motivation for visiting the studios was the harry potter world, and I spent hours in the Hogsmeade area, browsing the wand shops, book stores, and enjoying a nice cold mug of butter beer. I then went on a tour of Hogwarts, including a dramatic 4D ride that has to be experienced to be believed.

Having spent the day on rollercoasters, in theme shops and watching shows, I ended with an irresistable photo opportunity with the armoured titan from the ‘Attack on Titan’ anime. The studios have recreated a life sized model of the titan, an intimidating and impressive spectacle to end a great day with.

Osaka of course is famed for its street food, and I was lucky enough to have secured a capsule pod in the Dotonbori area. Here is where you can find Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, curry, katsu sticks and all sorts of Japanese delights. My stomach was truly swollen each night as I laid down to rest.

On my last day in the city, I treated myself to an animal cafe, specifically the owl family cafe. Here you can interact with small, medium and large sized owls for ¥1,500 (£10) for an hour. It was a delightful experience to be so close to these charming avians, and my particular favourite (Nana, a little owl), had a great time perching on my head.