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Kasuga Grand Shrine or Kasuga-taisha is an important Shinto Shrine in Nara, Japan. It is a popular tourist attraction specifically due to its thousands of lanterns, including stone ones that lead up to the shrine, and the bronze ones that hang at its many different buildings. The Kasuga Shrine and the surrounding Kasugayama Primeval Forest are part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine
Lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine (31 March, 2007)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

 The Kasuga Grand Shrine was founded in the early part of the Heian period. In AD 965 it was one of the original 16 Shinto shrines were Imperial messengers had to send reports of important events to its resident guardian spirit, kami.

The Kasuga Grand Shrine takes on a festive mood during the Setsubun Mantoro (2-4 February) and Obon Mantoro (14-15 August) Festivals, when all the lanterns are lit. On 13 March, the shrine stages the Kasuga Matsuri or Monkey Festival, with gagaku and bugaku dance performances.


Bronze lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine
Bronze lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine (31 March, 2007)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Stone lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine
Stone lanterns at Kasuga Grand Shrine (31 March, 2007)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

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