Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara, Japan

Visit the Kasugataisha Shrine at Nara Park in Nara, Japan

Kasuga Taisha in Nara is a lovely Shinto shrine included in the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With multiple deities enshrined here, the Kasuga Taisha Shrine or Kasuga Grand Shrine is considered one of Japan’s most sacred sites.

A primeval forest that has been untouched for over one thousand years forms a serene backdrop to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

Known for its gorgeous architecture, bright colors, and its thousands of lanterns, Kasuga-Taisha is worth putting on your itinerary for Nara Park if you enjoy local history and culture.

Planning a trip? Visit our Nara Park home page for the complete rundown on every single detail!

And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Japan, check out some of the top things to do in Japan, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!

History of Kasuga Taisha Shrine

The origin of Kasuga Taisha Shrine dates back to the early 700s, when the Fujiwara clan conducted a sacred ceremony for the tutelary deities of the family.

Shrine buildings started to be constructed here in the second half of the eighth century (the year 768), with buildings being added over time.

The buildings were completed in the Heian period, but they were rebuilt many times over in ensuing years, until the end of the Edo period.

Things to Do at Kasuga Taisha Shrine

Walk the Sando

The pathway that leads to Kasuga Taisha Shrine is an attraction in and of itself.

The approach is lined on both sides with stone lanterns. There are over 2,000 lanterns, funded by patrons of the shrine over many centuries. Many of them are covered with moss, a testament to their age.

At the end of the pathway is a brilliant orange torii gate that leads you into the main sanctuary.

The sando passes through Nara Park, and you will very likely see deer as you walk the pathway. The deer are considered messengers of the deities at the shrine and therefore sacred.

Explore the Kasuga Taisha Shrine Complex

The beautiful vermillion buildings of the Kasuga Taisha Shrine are constructed in an architectural style known as Kasuga zukuri. The style features a distinctive sloping roof.

The main complex is surrounded by cloisters on all sides. Here you will find shrines dedicated to the four main deities, as well as the Fujinami-no-ya Hall, a hall dedicated entirely to lanterns.

The lanterns at Kasuga Taisha have been funded by worshippers through the centuries.

Shrines to many lesser deities are located along the approach, outside the main complex, and in the surrounding woods.

Browse the exhibits at the Kasuga Taisha Museum

Housed in a modern building at the base of the hill, the Kasuga Taisha Museum is a small but fascinating must-browse if you enjoy history and culture.

The museum contains many artifacts, including beautiful and ornate lacquer boxes inlaid with gold, ceremonial drums, samurai armor, rare swords, and more.

Stroll the Manyo Botanical Garden

If you are a wisteria lover, plan to visit the Manyo Botanical Garden during wisteria bloom time, which generally happens from late April to early May. The wisteria is the symbol of the Fujiwara clan.

Manyo Botanical Garden boasts more than 200 wisterias, encompassing about 20 different varieties. During bloom, the garden is indeed a spectacular sight!

The garden contains other varieties of plants and trees as well, and makes for a delightful stroll.

Also do not miss Sunazuri no Fuji, the oldest wisteria in the complex. It is in the shrine courtyard and said to be about 800 years old, with some hanging flower clusters so long that they almost touch the ground.

Experience the lit lanterns of Kasuga Taisha during festivals

The thousands of lanterns for which Kasuga Taisha is famous are lit only twice each year, during the Setsubun Mantoro Festival in February and the Chugen Mantoro Festival in August.

During these times, people write out their wishes and attach them to the lanterns before lighting them.

How to Get to Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara, Japan

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is located to the south of the famous Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park in Nara, Japan.

Once you arrive at the JR Nara Station, it is about a 21-minute walk (1.4 km or 0.87 mile) to the entrance on the road. See map. From this entrance you walk another 800 meters (0.5 mile) through the park to get to the shrine.

You can also catch the “Loop” Bus #2 and get off at the Kasuga Taisha Omote Sando stop, from where it is a 0.5-mile walk to the shrine along the Sando, a pathway lined with stone lanterns.

There are other buses that drop you off closer to the shrine, but you will miss the stroll along the beautiful approach to the shrine.

If you start at the Kintetsu-Nara Station, it is about a 12-minute walk to the street entrance for the Kasuga Taisha Shrine. See map.

You can opt for the Loop Bus #2 from this station as well. From the street entrance or the bus stop, you walk another 0.5 mile to the shrine along the lantern-lined approach. Alternatively, you can opt for a bus that drops you off closer to the shrine.

A taxi is another option for getting to Kasuga Taisha Shrine from either of the two train stations in Nara.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine Opening Hours

Different parts of Kasuga Taisha Shrine have their own opening hours.

The main sanctuary at Kasuga Taisha Shrine is open daily for general worship from 6.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. from March to October, and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February.

The Meoto Daikokusha Shrine is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Kasugataisha Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4.30 p.m.

Manyo Botanical Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. with last admission at 4 p.m. The garden is open daily in April and May (wisteria bloom season) and open daily except for Tuesdays between June and March.

Note: Special events or ceremonies may affect the hours of operation, so verify the opening hours for the date of your visit closer to that time.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine Entrance Fee

Entrance fees are charged at the main sanctuary at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and at Kasugataisha Museum and Manyo Botanical Garden.

Th entrance fee for the Kasuga Taisha Shrine is 700 yen (USD 4.45) per person. Junior high students and younger children enter free.

The entrance fee per person at the Kasuga Taisha Museum is 500 yen (USD 3.18). University and high school students pay 300 yen (USD 1.91) per student. Junior high and elementary students pay 200 yen (USD 1.27) per student. Younger kids enter free. Special exhibits, offered occasionally, may have added fees.

Th entrance fee for the Manyo Botanical Garden is 500 yen (USD 3.18) per adult and 200 yen (USD 1.27) per child.