Kasuga Taisha Shrine
Nara Park is
combination of green land and woodland that spreads east into the hill side.
One of the shrines we wanted to visit, and view was Kasuga Taisha, starting at
the bottom end of the Nara Park, the shrines was situated about 20mins into the
wooded hillside. We walked along a steadily climbing path through the wooded
area, where there were many dear roaming freely eventually coming to a Torii
gate and the start of the shrine’s grounds. Most noticeably were the many
lanterns that were situated both side of the paths, which was amazing site too
see and quite rare to see so many in one spot! Kasuga Taisha is famous of its
many lanterns the lead to the shrine and situated along the paths that surround
it. The lanterns have been donated by worshipers over the many years and are
only lit twice a year during two lantern festivals.
Established
at the same time at the capital, the Kasuga Taisha is Nara’s most celebrated
shrine. The shrine was founded by the Fujiwara family, which were Japan’s most
powerful family clan during most of the Nara and Heian periods. Periodically
every 20 years the shrine was rebuilt, of which this tradition was continued
through the centuries until end of the Edo Period when the tradition was
discontinued.
Also, on the shrines grounds there is a museum that is a treasure hall and displays some of the shrines relics, the admission for the museum is 500 yen (£3.45).
Please find our other Nara articles in the 'Nara' section of the website.
After a
pleasant walk up into the hillside, we came to the Kasuga Taisha shrine, which
lies in the hillside in a deeply wooded setting, with the striking shrine
jumping out from its wooded backdrop that surround it.
The shrines offering hall is free of charge to enter and provides a great view of the stunning shrine, we didn’t on this occasion, but the inner area of the shine can also be entered for a small fee, which provides a closer view of the shrines inner buildings.
After vising the Kasuga Taisha shrine continued walking along the lantern lined path where there are many smaller shrines located in the woods surrounding the main complex. Twelve of the small shrines are dedicated to the twelve lucky gods, many of which are an important cultural property.
The woodland setting the Kasuga Taisha shrine complex located
was quite unusually compared to most shrines and temples we had been to, making
it really enjoyable.