Kasuga Taisha Shrine

If you happen to be in Nara, you will naturally be drawn to the mammoth Tōdai-​ji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure with one of the world’s largest bronze Buddhas inside. After all, size matters even in Japan. However, if you get a chance to go to the other side of Nara Park to visit this historic shrine, it would be well worth your time since it’s a lot more peaceful in a bucolic setting in front of a mountain (photo:
). The wild deer make it over here as well though not nearly as many as you would find at Tōdai-​ji since they must know must of the crackers will be handed out where the tour buses congregate. Deer know those things (photo:
). I know because I watched «Bambi».
What makes this site unique are all the lanterns donated by worshipers. Not only are there hundreds of bronze ones hanging from the shrine buildings but hundreds of stone ones that line the pathway to the shrine (photo:
). It’s the same concept as the torii gates at Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine where they look like they go on to infinity. There are many trails that lead to auxiliary shrines although some are cordoned off. The offerings here take the shape of hearts usually reflecting hopeful prayers for marriage, honeymoons and pregnancies (photo:
). The inner shrine requires an admission of ￥500. Otherwise it’s free. This place is a charmer that just shows size doesn’t matter all the time.

2000 Stone Lanterns you say? 2000 stone lanterns I repeat. YESSSS 2000 of the best stone lanterns you will ever see in your life.
This was quite possibly my favourite destination in Japan. Nara a city filled with deer, roaming the city like the owned the place. (They do) But the lanterns here somewhere deep in the park was just another level.
You walk, and walk, and walk, and the lanterns seem endless, but there is something about this place that makes you quiver in awe, I can’t say I know the history or why there are all these stone lanterns, but if you are ever in Japan, or Nara, you really cannot miss this place. Deer might appear in between the lanterns, its just an awesome experience.
This review is not doing this place justice

Kasuga-​taisha is another one of the be-​autiful shrines in Nara city.
I LOVE the way it looks when the wisteria is in bloom (April/​May) but it is a really nice place to visit any time of year. The lanterns look amazing with snow piled up over them or surrounded by the bright green summer leaves… If you want to see all the lanterns lit up, you need to come in early February (for setsubun) or during the «Tokae» lantern festival in the middle of August.
To get here from Nara park, walk through the huge stone lanterns and follow the walkway through the woods… as you get closer to the shrine, you will see more and more lanterns, until you make it to the shrine’s entrance which is lined with stone lanterns.
It costs ¥500 to enter the shrine, but if you are feeling poor, and don’t want to go inside, you can still see all the lanterns at the entrance, so it is still worth wandering up here.
This used to be on my jogging route, so I can assure you there is a bit of a hill as you walk towards the shrine from Nara city… but you probably won’t notice it unless you are running and out of breath!