Kasuga Taisha 春日大社

4 hidden details. Tick them off as you find them.

早In 30 seconds

A vermilion shrine in the forest at the foot of Mt Mikasa, founded in 768 for the powerful Fujiwara family. About 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, each offered by a worshipper, line the way. Nara's deer are seen as messengers of its kami.

時Time needed1–2 hours (with Tōdai-ji and Nara Park, a full day)
朝Best time of dayMorning, when the lantern path is quiet
季Best seasonFeb 3 and Aug 14–15, when all the lanterns are lit
券EntryGrounds free; some halls paid

見Don't miss these 4

The stone lantern path
Moss-covered lanterns on both sides. Some have a deer carved in the window — count how many you find.
The bronze lanterns
Hundreds of bronze lanterns hang from the eaves of the corridors inside.
The deer fountain
At the purification fountain, the water flows from a scroll held in a bronze deer's mouth.
Kasugayama Primeval Forest
The forest behind the shrine has long been protected as sacred, and is part of the World Heritage Site.

史History in brief

768
Founded as the shrine of the Fujiwara family. The style of its main sanctuary, Kasuga-zukuri, is named after it.
Founding legend
伝 legend The kami Takemikazuchi is said to have come from Kashima in eastern Japan riding a white deer — why deer are treated as sacred messengers.
1998
Listed with the primeval forest as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara World Heritage Site.

備Before you go

鹿
Many deer bow, especially if you hold crackers. Bow back — and feed them only shika senbei.
灯
If your trip falls on a Mantōrō night (Feb 3 or Aug 14–15), plan your evening around it.

Checked on 2026-11-10 against these sources

伝 marks a legend or tradition, not a proven fact.

0/4 found

見 Approach path and corridorsThe lanterns of Kasuga TaishaAbout 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns offered by worshippers over centuries. All are lit together only at the Mantōrō festivals (February 3 and August 14–15). More →
見 Fuseshika no TemizushoAt the purification fountain, the water flows from a scroll held in a bronze deer's mouth.
見 Throughout伝 legend Founding legend: the kami Takemikazuchi arrived riding a white deer — why Nara's deer are seen as messengers.
見 —Founded in 768.

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Stories from here

Moss-covered stone lanterns and a deer at Kasuga Taisha in Nara

春日3,000 Lanterns and Sacred Deer: Kasuga Taisha Explained5 min read

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Torii gate鳥居

The lanterns of Kasuga Taisha春日大社の灯籠

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Ema絵馬

史About

Kasuga-taisha (春日大社) is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up to the shrine.

The architectural style Kasuga-zukuri takes its name from Kasuga Shrine's honden (sanctuary). The Torii at Kasuga-taisha is one of the oldest in Shinto and helped influence the style of Torii seen across much of Japan. Kasuga Shrine, and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest near it, are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara".

The path to Kasuga Shrine passes through a deer park. In the park, deer are able to roam freely and are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods that inhabit the shrine and surrounding mountainous terrain. Kasuga Shrine and the deer have been featured in several paintings and works of art of the Nanboku-chō period. Over three thousand stone lanterns line the way. The Man'yo Botanical Garden is adjacent to the shrine.

Text from Wikipedia: Kasuga-taisha — CC BY-SA 4.0. Read more on Wikipedia →

要Quick facts

Type	Shrine
Location	Nara, Nara
Founded	768
Designations	National Treasure of Japan part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Site of Japan
Official website	kasugataisha.or.jp
Nearest stations	Kintetsu Nara Station · 1.9 km Kintetsu Nara Line Kyōbate Station · 2.2 km Sakurai Line Distances are in a straight line; walking routes are longer.
Map	Open in Google Maps ↗