Travel in Nara
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha · Kasugataisha Shrine · 春日大社
At Kasuga Taisha, walk past lanterns to red shrine buildings. After visiting the ordinary worship area, choose special worship at the main sanctuary if you also want to see the corridors’ hanging lanterns.
Access information in English Operations and suspension dates in Japanese Sources and dates checked
Visitor information at a glance
Admission
Ordinary worship at the main sanctuary worship area has no admission fee. Special worship covering the corridors and lanterns costs JPY 700. The Treasure Hall and Manyo Botanical Garden charge separately.
Opening hours and closed days
The ordinary main sanctuary worship area opens from 06:30 to 17:30 in March–October and 07:00 to 17:00 in November–February. Special worship is available from 09:00 to 16:00; check the visitor information below for ritual suspension dates and times.
What can I see at Kasuga Taisha?
Lanterns and red buildings along the shrine approach
Walk past the approach’s lanterns to reach red shrine buildings. Allow time for both the walk from Nara Park and worship at the shrine.
Special worship to see the corridors’ hanging lanterns
Choose special worship at the main sanctuary to see hanging lanterns in the corridors. Its access differs from free ordinary worship. The Treasure Hall and botanical garden require their own admission fees.
Kasuga Taisha’s official lanterns and red shrine buildings Kasuga Taisha official worship and access by exit
How to get to Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha is about 25 minutes on foot from Kintetsu-Nara. By bus, take a Kasuga Taisha Honden-bound service from JR Nara or Kintetsu-Nara and get off at Kasuga Taisha Honden. The official 3-minute walk after alighting refers to the botanical garden’s main gate and Kasuga Ninai. Allow separate time to walk to the main sanctuary and queue at the ordinary worship area.
Operations and suspension dates in Japanese Access information in English Kasuga Taisha official worship and access by exit
Before you visit
Check whether special worship is available on your date
Special worship normally runs from 09:00 to 16:00, but is suspended all day from around 8–13 March and from 20 December to 7 January. Other exceptions include morning suspensions on the 1st, 11th and 21st of each month and official ritual days. Events and rituals may change hours or temporarily suspend access, so check notices for your visit date. The ordinary worship area follows separate seasonal hours.
Questions about Kasuga Taisha
How can I see the hanging lanterns in the corridors?
Special worship at the main sanctuary covers the corridors’ hanging lanterns. Its scope differs from free ordinary worship, and rituals suspend it on some dates and at some times.
Kasuga Taisha’s official lanterns and red shrine buildings Kasuga Taisha official worship and access by exit
Sources and dates checked
- Access information in English ·
- Operations and suspension dates in Japanese ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
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