Kasuga Taisha (Kasuga Grand Shrine)
160 Kasuganocho, Nara
Kasuga Taisha (Kasuga Grand Shrine dates back to the year 768, when its construction was ordered by Emperor Shotoku (though it has been rebuilt several times since. This celebrated Shinto shrine complex is most famous for the series of giant stone lanterns that line the paths through Nara Park leading toward its entrance.
Kasuga Taisha is Nara’s most celebrated Shinto shrine and a highlight of any visit to the ancient Japanese capital. The complex comprises several different facilities, including the main shrine and the Kasuga Taisha Museum, which displays relics from the shrine. Set aside some time to explore the smaller shrines dotted amid the Kasuga Primeval Forest behind the shrine, as well as the Kasuga Taisha Shinen Manyo Botanical Garden. Most sightseeing tours of Nara, including day trips from Osaka, include a visit to the shrine, typically alongside other notable attractions, like Todaiji Temple and Deer Park.
- The offering hall is free to explore, but be prepared to pay an entrance fee to visit the inner area.
- The museum and botanical gardens each charge separate admission fees.
- Don’t forget your camera; this is one of the most picturesque spots in Nara.
- Remember to keep your voice down in the shrine, as it remains an active place of worship.
Kasuga Taisha (Kasuga Grand Shrine) is located on the eastern end of Nara Park, about 30 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station and 45 minutes from JR Nara Station. You can also catch a bus from JR Nara Station to the Kasuga Taisha Hoden bus stop. The city of Nara is within day-trip distance of Osaka.
The shrine is open daily throughout the year, with extended hours in the summer (April to September). If possible, try to visit during one of the two times each year that the shrine's stone lanterns are lit, once in early February and again in mid-August. The wisteria flowers at the complex’s botanical garden typically bloom between late April and early May.
Kasuga Taisha is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a collection of temples, palaces, shrines, and a primeval forest, mainly dating back to when Nara was the capital of Japan (710 to 784). Highlights of the complex include a giant Great Buddha statue at Daibutsuden, considered a symbol of Nara, as well as the 8th-century Heijo Palace, and the deer-filled Kasugayama Primeval Forest.
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