# Kasuga Taisha, Nara > Kasuga Taisha is a Shinto shrine from 768 on the eastern edge of Nara Park and a UNESCO site. It's known for its 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. The approach and outer area are free, open 7:00–17:00 from November to February. Entry to the inner corridors is ¥700, 9:00–16:00. It's 25 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara through the park. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kasuga-taisha - City: [Nara](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara), Japan - YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: outer area free; corridors ¥700 - Opening hours: March–October 6:30–17:30, November–February 7:00–17:00; inner corridors 9:00–16:00 - With kids: Fine with kids - Approach and outer area: Free - Inner corridors: ¥700, 9:00–16:00 - Winter hours: November–February 7:00–17:00 - Shrine museum: ¥700; 10:00–17:00 - Manyo Botanical Garden: ¥700; closed Tuesdays June–March - Getting there: 25 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara, or bus - Coordinates: 34.68134, 135.84835 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **768** — the year the first shrine building was built — on 9 November (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **3,000** — donated stone and bronze lanterns (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **Fujiwara** — the clan that founded the shrine (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **4 deities** — worshipped in the main sanctuary (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **2,200+** — festivals and rites a year (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **UNESCO** — Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara — with the Kasugayama forest (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥700** — entry to the inner corridors (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) - **25 minutes** — on foot from Kintetsu-Nara station (source: kasugataisha.or.jp) ## What 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. > **When all the lanterns are lit** Normally the lanterns aren't lit. All 3,000 are lit only at the Mantoro festivals — in early February, around Setsubun, and on 14–15 August. If you're there on those dates, come in the evening. At other times, look into the dark Fujinami-no-ya hall in the corridor, where bronze lanterns glow all year round. ## 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 1. **On foot from Kintetsu-Nara** — about 25 minutes east through Nara Park. 2. **Bus** from JR and Kintetsu Nara to the Kasuga Taisha Honden stop, then 3 minutes on foot. 3. **Loop bus** — to the Kasuga Taisha Omotesando stop, then about 10 minutes on foot. 4. **From Todai-ji** — about 20 minutes on foot through the park. 5. **From Osaka** — Kintetsu to Kintetsu-Nara, about 40 minutes. ## Kasuga Taisha or Fushimi Inari in Kyoto | | Kasuga Taisha | Fushimi Inari | | --- | --- | --- | | Highlight | 3,000 lanterns | Thousands of torii gates | | Entry | Outer area free | Free | | Atmosphere | Forest and deer | A trail up a mountain | | Time | 1 hour | 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 - [ ] ¥700 for the inner corridors - [ ] Inner corridors — until 16:00 - [ ] Comfortable shoes — forest paths - [ ] Mantoro dates — February and August - [ ] Todai-ji on the way ## Nara temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Nara rated by YesGo. - [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800 - [Kofuku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kofuku-ji) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 - [Kasuga Taisha](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kasuga-taisha) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700 - [Yakushi-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/yakushi-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥1,000 - [Horyu-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/horyu-ji) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ ¥2,000 ## 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. 1. [Kofuku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kofuku-ji) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · grounds free; museum ≈ ¥900 2. [Nara Park](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/nara-park) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free 3. [Todai-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/todai-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ¥800 4. [Kasuga Taisha](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/kasuga-taisha) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · outer area free; corridors ¥700 ## Good to know Kasuga Taisha is the shrine in Nara, not the thousands of other Kasuga shrines across Japan. It is also called the Kasuga Grand Shrine. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/japan/nara/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. ## How we checked Hours, prices, closing days, access, founding date and number of lanterns are from the shrine's official site. UNESCO status is from Wikipedia. Mantoro festival dates are from guides and may change. Time needed is the YesGo estimate. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.