春日大社
160 Kasuganocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
The Guardian Deity of the Fujiwara Clan
Featuring Four National Treasure Main Halls
Kasuga Taisha, located within Nara Park, known for Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, was built in 768 to protect Heijo-kyo and pray for the prosperity of the nation.
It is regarded as the guardian shrine of the Fujiwara clan, and because it is said that Takemikazuchi no Mikoto arrived riding a white deer, deer are considered divine messengers.
The first torii gate, located about a kilometer from the shrine buildings, is a large structure.
It is counted among the "Three Great Torii" of Japan, along with Kehi Shrine and Itsukushima Shrine.
The long approach path, surrounded by the trees of Nara Park, is lined with many lanterns on both sides.
The expansive shrine grounds house many subsidiary shrines, totaling 61 shrines including both subsidiary and auxiliary shrines, many of which are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.
Chokushi-den seen to the left after passing through the second torii gate
Four precinct shrines built past the tower gate
Important Cultural Property "South Gate"
Important Cultural Property "Heiden"
Important Cultural Property "Treasure House"
Also known as Shinko, the second most important building after the main hall.
Important Cultural Property "Naorai-den"
A large nagare-zukuri style building with a stepped interior.
The iconic Middle Gate of Kasuga Taisha was built before the Kamakura period.
Designated as an Important Cultural Property along with the eastern and western corridors, it is an essential structure in front of the main hall.
The corridor extending north from the Middle Gate has a stairway known as "nejirou" which was reportedly modified by Hidari Jingoro to be diagonal instead of straight.
Behind the Middle Gate are four shrines, one for each of the four deities, all in the Kasuga-zukuri style and designated as National Treasures.
Although the shrine buildings are nearly identical in size, their vivid colors, maintained through renovations every 20 years, are notable.
These buildings are known as representative examples of the Kasuga-zukuri style and are said to retain the design aesthetics of the Heian period.
Kasuga Taisha is surrounded by lush greenery and features many deer walking through the park, as well as numerous lanterns adorning the shrine grounds.
The lanterns hung throughout the shrine add a quaint atmosphere.
There is also a rare tree called "Nanatsu-yosegi," which has six different trees growing from a single trunk, standing next to the main hall.
This tree is believed to bring prosperity and protect pregnant women.
| Location | 160 Kasuganocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Website | http://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/ |
| Deities | Takemikazuchi no Mikoto, Futsunushi no Mikoto, Ame no Koyane no Mikoto, Himegami |
| Structures | National Treasure "Kasuga Taisha Main Shrine" (4 buildings) Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Middle Gate" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha East Corridor" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha West and North Corridors" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Nejirou" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Heiden" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Naorai-den" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Iden" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Treasure House" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Corridors" (5 buildings) Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha South Gate" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Keiga Gate" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Seijo Gate" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Naishi Gate" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Kuruma-sha" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Chokushi-den" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Kamado-den" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Sake-den" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Board Storehouse" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha First Torii" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Wakamiya Shrine Main Hall" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Wakamiya Shrine Worship Hall" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Wakamiya Shrine Hosoden and Kaguraden" Important Cultural Property "Kasuga Taisha Wakamiya Shrine Temizuya" Important Cultural Property "Former Kasuga Taisha Board Storehouse (Round Window)" |