Kasuga Taisha Shrine is located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and is a representative shrine of Nara Prefecture with its distinctive vermilion-lacquered Shrine buildings.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine is one of the components of Nara Prefecture’s World Heritage Site (Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara) and is visited by many people from Japan and abroad.
Deer are treated with great care as messengers of God
About Kasuga Taisha Shrine
With a history of over 1,250 years, Kasuga Taisha Shrine is the head shrine of the approximately 3,000 Kasuga Shrines in Japan.
The Kasuga Taisha Shrine was built in 768 during the Nara period by the order of Empress Shoutoku, and enshrines Takemikazuchi no Mikoto, Futsunushi no Mikoto, Amenokoyane no Mikoto, and Himegami.
The Kasuga Taisha Shrine houses many national treasures and important cultural properties, including the buildings. 354 national treasures and 1482 important cultural properties are held and displayed in the National Treasure Hall (fee required).
Special Worship of Main Sanctuary
At Kasuga Taisha Shrine, visitors can pay a fee to visit the middle gate, which is closer to the main shrine, and see the hanging lanterns in the east cloister.
Kasuga Taisha Shrine is also known for its lanterns, of which there are approximately 3,000.
Three times a year (Setsubun (February 2, 3 or 4 depends on each year) and August 14 and 15), an event called “Mandoro” is held in which all the lanterns are lit.
You can experience the “Mandoro”
At the special worship, visitors can also enter the Fujinami-no-ya Hall (the former Shinto priests office), where they can experience the “Mandoro”.
Please note that in addition to the days and times below, special worship may not be possible due to shrine festivals or other reasons.
Closed on the days below
March 8 – 13, December 20 – January 7, the 2nd Monday of January
Closed from 9:00-12:00 on the days below
- 1, 11 and 21 of each month
- February: 2, 3 or 4*, 17, 23
- March: 20 or 21*, 17, 23
- April: 3
- May: 5, 10, the 3rd Friday
- August: 7, 15
- September: 22 or 23*
- October: 3
- November: 23
- December: 17
*dates depend on each year
Japanese Lanterns
Kasugayama (Mount Kasuga) Primeval Forest
The Kasugayama Primeval Forest, which extends to the east of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, is one of the components of the World Heritage Site, as is Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
The Kasugayama Primeval Forest, which is the sacred area of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, has been protected for more than 1,100 years, with hunting and logging prohibited since 841.
Because of its protected background in connection with the traditional Japanese view of nature, it is registered as a World “Cultural” Heritage site together with the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Part of the Kasugayama Primeval Forest is a 10-kilometer-long hiking trail.
The Kasugayama Primeval Forest was a place for monks to train, and stone Buddha statues can still be seen there today.
INFORMATION
NAME
Kasuga Taisha Shrine (春日大社)
BUSINESS DAY
Every day
ADMISSION
Special Worship of Main Sanctuary: 500yen (Junior High School Students and under are admitted for free)
ADDRESS
160 Kasuganocho, Nara City, Nara 630-8212
ACCESS
3 minute walk from Kasuga Taisha Honden bus stop.
10 minute walk from Kasugataisha Omotesando bus stop.
25 minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
36 minute walk from JR Nara Station.
STATION INFO
(Nara Kotsu) Kasuga Taisha Honden (bus stop)
Nara City Main Bus
(Nara Kotsu) Kasugataisha Omotesando (bus stop)
Nara City Loop Bus
(Kintetsu Railway) Nara Station
Kintetsu Nara line
(JR) Nara Station
JR Nara line
LINK