"The Shrine lies in a primeval forest of cedars and a kind of Chinese black pines. The brilliant vermillon edifices are beautifully contrasted with their surrounding greenery. Going through the first and second Torii gates, you can see a lot of stone lanterns standing on both sides of the approach to the shrine. Going on further, you will find the south gate on the left. The main hall is located among trees behind the gate. From the gate a corridor extends to the left and to the right. A great number of lanterns hung from the eaves of the corridor are producing an elegant atmosphere.
In the 3rd year of the Wado era (710), when the capital was transferred to Nara, Fujiwara-no-Fuhito celebrated a mass for tutelary deities of the Fujiwara family, which is considered to be the origin of this shrine. In the 2nd year of the Jingo-Keiun era (768), shrine buildings started to be constructed here. Just like the Kofuku-ji Temple,shrine buildings were added, along with the prosperity of the Fujiwara family. In the first half of the Heian period (794-1192), shrine buildings were completed on the same scale as they are today. After the Middle Ages, the belief was prevalent among commoners, which is shown by the fact that various-shaped hanging lanterns and stone lanterns known as ""Mantoro"" were mostly the donations from common people.
The tutelary deities enshrined here are Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto from Kashima of Ibaraki Prefecture, Futsunushi-no-Mikoto from Katori of Chiba Prefecture, Amenokoyane-no-Mikoto and Himegami from Hiraoka of Osaka Prefecture.
(10 minutes' walk from the bus stop Kasuga Taisha Omote Sando of Loop Line Bus of the city)"
Basic Information
| Address | 160 Kasugano-cho, Nara City 630-8212 |
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| Access | From JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station: Take a bus bound for Kasuga Taisha Honden. The ride takes approximately 11-15 minutes. Get off at "Kasuga Taisha Honden," and it’s a short walk from there. Alternatively, take the city loop bus (outer loop) for about 9-13 minutes. Get off at "Kasuga Taisha Omotesando," and it’s about a 10-minute walk. |
| Inquiries | Tel: +81-742-22-7788 Fax: 0742-27-2114 |
| Website | Kasugataisha Shrine Official Websitehttps://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/en/about_en/ |
| Closed on | ■Treasure Hall: Closed except during three annual special exhibitions. ■Kasuga Taisha Shrine Manyo Botanical Garden ・April-May: Always open ・June-March: Closed on Tuesdays (Should national holidays fall on a Tuesday, the garden will be closed the following day) |
| Parking | Space for 100 vehicles. Parking fee for cars: 1,000 yen Parking fee for buses: 3,000 yen |
Entrance Fee
| Price (Individual) | Visitors are permitted to move freely about the temple grounds. Main Hall (Hon-den) Entrance Fee: 500 yen ■Treasure House Entrance Fee: Adults: 500 yen University students: 300 yen High school students: 300 yen Junior high school students: 200 yen Elementary school students: 200 yen ■ Kasuga Taisha Shrine Manyo Botanical Garden Entrance Fee: Adult: 500 yen Children: 200 yen |
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| Price (Group) | Group fees apply to groups of 20 or more. ■Treasure House Entrance Fee: Adult: 400 yen ■Kasuga Taisha Shrine Manyo Botanical Garden Entrance Fee: Adult: 400 yen |
| Other | Tip: Every year from January to March, the "Beginner Course in Miko Training to Experience Japanese Tradition" is offered, providing an opportunity to delve into Japanese tradition. |
| Hours of Operation | Opening Hours: March to October: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM November to February: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM ■National Treasure Hall 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM) ■Kasuga Taisha Shrine Manyo Botanical Garden 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM) |
Sightseeing
| Events | Kasuga Festival (Sarumatsuri): March 13th, 9:00 AM onwards. Rice-Planting Ritual: March 15th, 11:00 AM onwards. Mizutani Shrine Chinka-sai (Flower-Placing Festival): April 5th, 10:00 AM onwards. Tea Offering Ceremony: May 10th, 11:00 AM (For Urasenke School, starts at 10:00 AM). Takigi O Noh Performance: Third Friday and Saturday of the Month. Nikku Hajime-shiki narabi ni Kofukuji Kansu Sha Sanshiki (Beginning of the Year Rituals): January 2nd, 10:00 AM onwards. Kagura Hajime-shiki (Beginning of Kagura Rituals): January 3rd, 11:00 AM onwards. Gokito Hajime-shiki (Beginning of Prayers Rituals): January 7th, 10:00 AM onwards. Bugaku Hajime-shiki (Beginning of Bugaku Rituals): Coming of Age Day, 1:00 PM onwards. Setsubun Mantoro: February Setsubun Day, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Chugen Mantoro: August 14th and 15th, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three Festival): Mid-October to late November. Kasuga Wakamiya On-matsuri: December 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th. |
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| Flower-Viewing | ・Camellia: Early February to early April, Approximately 100 varieties (About 300 trees) within Manyo Botanical Garden garden. ・Japanese andromeda: Late February to mid-March. ・Wisteria: Mid-April to mid-May, Approximately 20 varieties, 200 trees, within Manyo Botanical garden and throughout the precincts. The best time to see the "Sunazuri no Fuji" wisteria, as it is called, is early May. ※The name "Sunazuri no Fuji" comes from the fact that its flower clusters extend over one meter in length by early May and droop to touch the ground, resembling sand pouring down. |
| National Treasures | 4 main buildings of shrine and others |
Nearby Locations
Nara Okuyama Driveway – Toll road leading to the summit of Mt. Wakakusa
Zoushi-cho - Byakugoji-cho, Nara City
Former Daijo-in Temple Garden（Daijo-in Temple Garden Heritage Center）
1083-1 Takabatake-cho, Nara City
Nearby Accommodation
Todai-ji Temple/Nara Park 
Nara-machi 
Heijo Palace/Saki/Saho-ji 
Kita-machi 
Tomio/Gakuen-mae 
Saidai-ji Temple/Nishi-no-kyo/Daian-ji Temple 
Kiyosumi-no-Sato 
Takisaka-no-Michi Path 
Yagyu 
Tsukigase 
Tawara 
Tsuge 
JR奈良駅周辺 
高畑 
