Kasuga Grand Shrine

This beautiful and historic shrine is located in Nara Park and is the head shrine of approximately 1,000 Kasuga shrines throughout Japan.

It is registered as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites “Cultural Properties of Ancient Nara. The former name of the shrine was “Kasuga Shrine,” and its divine crest is a “falling wisteria.

The history of the shrine dates back to the Nara period when the capital was relocated from Asuka to Heijo-kyo, and it was built in 768 to pray for the protection of Heijo-kyo and prosperity of the people, and enshrines the deities of the Nakatomi and Fujiwara clans.

The main deity, Takemikazuchi no Mikoto, is said to have appeared riding on a white deer, and the deer is regarded as a divine messenger.

The precincts of the shrine have been considered a Shinto sanctuary since ancient times and extend over the entire area of Mount Mikata, where the bright vermilion shrine pavilion stands as if protected by a primeval forest.

The present main hall was rebuilt in 1863 and is a typical example of the kasuga-zukuri style. The four main buildings stand side by side, and all four are designated as national treasures.

There is no hall of worship, and visitors generally worship from the mihiden (hall of offerings). In the past, the main shrine building was called Omiya.

Twenty-three buildings of the main shrine are designated as Important Cultural Properties, and the Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Hall houses approximately 3,000 items, including 352 national treasures and 971 important cultural properties, and is open to the public.

The grounds of Kasuga-taisha Shrine are home to tsuritonro (stone lanterns) of various shapes and sizes, making it the shrine with the largest number of stone lanterns in Japan. There are approximately 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 tsuritonos, and 70% of all Muromachi period stone lanterns in Japan are from Kasuga Taisha.

The faith in Kasuga is deeply held not only by aristocrats, but also by samurai families and townspeople, and many of the stone lanterns are dedicated by commoners.

Every February and August, the “Manto Lantern Festival” is held, in which all the lanterns are lit, creating a fantastically beautiful scene.

The Ichinotorii, which is 7.75 meters high and was rebuilt in 1638, is one of the “Three Great Torii Gates of Japan” along with the Otorii of Kibi Jingu Shrine and Itsukushima Shrine, and is designated as an important cultural property.

It has a close relationship with Kofukuji Temple, where the main deity of Kasuga Taisha, Kannon (Amoghapasa), is enshrined.

The Manyoshu Botanical Garden on the temple grounds is home to approximately 300 varieties of flowers and grasses that appear in the Manyoshu anthology and are accompanied by Manyoshu poems related to the anthology. In the wisteria garden, about 200 wisteria trees of 20 varieties are planted.

Flowers bloom from season to season, and there are many events held throughout the year. No matter what time of year you visit, there is always something new to see and do at the shrine. The vast grounds and buildings are so extensive that one day is not enough time to take a good look around.

On the 21st of each month, a “Shunsai” ceremony is held, which is open to the public, followed by a Shinto lecture by a priest. This is a rare opportunity to participate in a Shinto ritual that you would not normally be able to see.