Nara Park
Nara, Japan
Kasuga Taisha, Nara
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Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- outer area free; corridors ¥700
- Hours
- March–October 6:30–17:30, November–February 7:00–17:00; inner corridors 9:00–16:00
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Approach and outer area
- Free
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Inner corridors
- ¥700, 9:00–16:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Winter hours
- November–February 7:00–17:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Shrine museum
- ¥700; 10:00–17:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Manyo Botanical Garden
- ¥700; closed Tuesdays June–March
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Getting there
- 25 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara, or bus
Key facts
768the year the first shrine building was built — on 9 November
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kasugataisha.or.jp3,000donated stone and bronze lanterns
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kasugataisha.or.jpFujiwarathe clan that founded the shrine
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kasugataisha.or.jp4 deitiesworshipped in the main sanctuary
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kasugataisha.or.jp2,200+festivals and rites a year
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kasugataisha.or.jpUNESCOHistoric Monuments of Ancient Nara — with the Kasugayama forest
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en.wikipedia¥700entry to the inner corridors
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kasugataisha.or.jp25 minuteson foot from Kintetsu-Nara station
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kasugataisha.or.jpWhat is Kasuga Taisha?
Kasuga Taisha is Nara's main Shinto shrine, at the foot of Mount Mikasa on the eastern edge of Nara Park. According to the official site, its guardian deity was brought to the top of Mount Mikasa early in the Nara period to protect the capital, and on 9 November 768 the Fujiwara clan built the first shrine building here.
The shrine is famous for its lanterns: some 3,000 stone lanterns line the forest approaches, and bronze ones hang in the vermilion corridors round the main hall. They have been donated by worshippers over the centuries. The shrine is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, together with the primeval forest of Mount Kasuga behind it.
What's free and what's paid
According to the official site, you can walk the approaches to the middle gate for free: from March to October 6:30 to 17:30, and from November to February 7:00 to 17:00. Entry to the inner corridors around the main sanctuary is ¥700, from 9:00 to 16:00; they're closed from 8 to 13 March and from 20 December to 7 January.
Separately, the shrine museum charges ¥700 for adults, open 10:00 to 17:00, and the Manyo Botanical Garden, with plants from ancient poetry, charges ¥700, open 9:00 to 16:30; from June to March it's closed on Tuesdays. Hours may change on festival days.
What to see
- The stone lantern avenue through the forest.
- The middle gate and the vermilion corridor.
- Bronze lanterns in the corridors.
- Fujinami-no-ya hall with lit lanterns.
- The old wisteria by the main hall.
- Manyo Botanical Garden — wisteria in May.
How to get to Kasuga Taisha
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Nara Park is about 14 min away on foot.
- Nara National Museum is about 18 min away on foot.
- Todai-ji is about 21 min away on foot.
More tips
- On foot from Kintetsu-Nara — about 25 minutes east through Nara Park.
- Bus from JR and Kintetsu Nara to the Kasuga Taisha Honden stop, then 3 minutes on foot.
- Loop bus — to the Kasuga Taisha Omotesando stop, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- From Todai-ji — about 20 minutes on foot through the park.
- From Osaka — Kintetsu to Kintetsu-Nara, about 40 minutes.
Kasuga Taisha or Fushimi Inari in Kyoto
| Kasuga Taishayou are here | 3,000 lanterns | Outer area free | Forest and deer | 1 hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fushimi Inari | Thousands of torii gates | Free | A trail up a mountain | 2–3 hours |
How long do you need?
An hour is enough for the shrine: walk the forest lantern avenue, enter the inner corridors and see the main hall. With the museum and Manyo garden, about two hours.
The approach runs through the eastern part of Nara Park, so you'll meet deer on the way — in legend they're the messengers of the Kasuga gods. It's easy to come here after Todai-ji and return to the station via Sarusawa Pond.
In the morning, at 9:00, the corridors are still quiet and light falls through the trees onto the rows of lanterns. In May, wisteria — the Fujiwara clan's emblem — blooms by the main hall and in the Manyo garden.
Is Kasuga Taisha worth visiting?
Yes: the forest avenue of stone lanterns and the vermilion corridors with bronze lanterns are among the most beautiful sights in Nara.
The YesGo take: it's a long way from the station, and many people only get as far as Todai-ji. That's a pity — there are fewer people here and more atmosphere. If you're short on time, the free outer area is enough; the inner corridors at ¥700 are for those who want to see the lanterns up close.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Nara temples: compare and choose
Temples and shrines in Nara rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Todai-ji | 51 | 1 h 30 min | ¥800 | 20 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kofuku-ji | 44 | 1 h | grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 | 27 min walk |
| Kasuga Taishayou are here | 37 | 1 h | outer area free; corridors ¥700 | — |
| Yakushi-ji | 32 | 1 h 15 min | ¥1,000 | 6.0 km |
| Horyu-ji | 30 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ ¥2,000 | 12.8 km |
Nara in a day
The deer and Kofuku-ji in the morning, Todai-ji's Great Buddha at midday, and the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha in the afternoon. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Kofuku-ji1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900
- 20 min walk from the previous stopNara Park1 h 30 min · free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopTodai-ji1 h 30 min · ¥800
- 20 min walk from the previous stopKasuga Taishayou are here1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700
4 places · about 5 h 49 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- The outer area is free.
- Inner corridors close at 16:00.
- Lit lanterns — in Fujinami-no-ya hall.
- May — wisteria in bloom.
- On the way: Todai-ji.
Questions
How much is entry to Kasuga Taisha?
The outer area is free; the inner corridors are ¥700.
What are the opening hours?
7:00–17:00 from November to February, 6:30–17:30 from March to October; inner corridors 9:00–16:00.
How many lanterns are there?
About 3,000, stone and bronze.
When are all the lanterns lit?
At the Mantoro festivals — early February and 14–15 August.
How do I get there?
25 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara, or a bus to Kasuga Taisha Honden.
When was the shrine founded?
The first building dates from 9 November 768.
How long do you need?
About an hour; two with the museum and garden.
When are the inner corridors closed?
8–13 March and 20 December–7 January.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Shrine official site (kasugataisha.or.jp/en) — hours, prices, closing days, access, history, number of lanterns (checked 09.11.2026)
- English Wikipedia: Kasuga-taisha — UNESCO, Kasugayama forest
- Travel guides — Mantoro festival dates (unofficial)
- Wikidata Q714559 — coordinates
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