Nara · Nara Park
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha was founded in 768, when the god Takemikazuchi, who came from Kashima Shrine, and three other gods were enshrined at the foot of Mount Mikasa. Fujiwara no Nagate built the shrine buildings by order of the empress. Every 20 years the shrine renews its buildings and sacred objects in the Shikinen Zotai ceremony, and according to the shrine it has been held 60 times to date. In 1998 it was registered, together with the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, as part of the World Heritage Site of ancient Nara.
The shrine has about 3,000 lanterns donated over the generations: about 2,000 stone lanterns along the paths and about 1,000 hanging lanterns in the corridors. According to the shrine, close to 70 percent of the Muromachi-period lanterns preserved in Japan are here. Only twice a year, on Setsubun evening in early February and on 14 and 15 August, are all of them lit.
The grounds themselves are free. You pay for the inner area inside the corridors, and that is where Fujinami-no-ya is: a room that was once an office for the priests, with hanging lanterns glowing in the dark, so that even people who do not come on lantern evenings can see what it looks like. Next to the shrine there is also the Manyo Botanical Garden, with about 300 plants mentioned in the ancient poetry collection Manyoshu, and the treasure house.
Good to know
- On 7, 14, 21 and 28 November 2026 the shrine opens in the evening, 17:30-20:00 (last admission 19:45), with about 1,000 hanging lanterns lit. ¥700, no booking. At 17:00 the gates close for a short time before the evening opening.
- On the regular lantern evenings you can donate a lantern of your own, from ¥3,000. On Setsubun evening all the lanterns are lit at around 18:00, and in August at around 19:00.
- The wisteria in the botanical garden, 20 varieties and about 200 trees, blooms from mid-April to early May. In April and May the garden is open every day, including Tuesday.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Kasuga Taisha.
- HereKasuga Taisha
- ~5 min
Kasuga Ninai-chaya Food
The shrine's teahouse, on the approach path, with seating in the garden. The dish it is known for is Manyo porridge, ¥1,200: rice in kombu broth and white miso with a topping that changes every month, chestnuts and sweet potato in October and mushrooms in November. There is also a tray with kakinoha-zushi, ¥1,700, and sweets such as kuzu-mochi, ¥550.
- ~9 min
Rokuen (Nara Deer Sanctuary) More to see
The facility of the deer foundation, with a viewing path and an exhibition that reopened in March 2026. Free, with a donation of ¥100. On 7 and 8 November 2026 the antler-cutting ceremony, a tradition from the Edo period, is held here: 11:45-15:00, ¥1,000, children ¥500, standing only, and on those days the facility itself is closed.
- ~10 min
Tobihino Field More to see
A grassy field on the shrine grounds. From 1 to 14 December 2026, every morning at 10:00, a player calls the deer with a natural horn and they come out of the forest. Free, no booking needed.
- ~13 min
Ukimido Pavilion More to see
A hexagonal pavilion that seems to float on Sagi Pond and is reflected in the water. Free.
- ~13 min
Mount Wakakusa More to see
A grassy hill 342 meters high with a view over Nara. ¥150, children from age 3 ¥80. Two gates, north and south. Open from the third Saturday of March to the second Sunday of December, which in 2026 means until 13 December.
More in Nara Park
Appears in: Nara: the deer, the Great Buddha and the lantern shrine