Kasuga-taisha+Shrine

The Kasuga Taisha Shrine of Nara was officially established in 768 by the Fujiwara clan, but believed to have originated in the beginning of the Nara period, 710. The Shrine is located at the western foot of Mt. Mikasa and Mt. Kasuga and was soon united with the Kofukuji Temple in the later half of the Hein period, 794-1185. Though the two were soon split apart when the Meji restoration, 1868- 1912, demanded that Shinto and Buddhism had to be taught separately. Emperor Murakami had told his Imperial messengers to find the quickest way to build this temple, it was soon completely built. This was one of the first and one of the top ranking governmental shrines.

It is most commonly known for its 3000 lanterns (2000 stone and 1000 bronze) and its wisteria flowers inside of their botanical gardens. Wisteria is the most important flower in the botanical garden mainly because the tribe "Fujiwara" can be translated as "field of wisteria." This shrine is one of the "Three Great Shrines" of Japan, and also one of the most unknown Great Shrines. The main festival days of Kasuga Taisha Shrine are February 2nd through 4th, Setsubun Mantoro, March 13th, Kasuga Matsuri, and August 14th and 15th, the festival of Obon Mantoro.

As you walk up to the Shrine through the Deer Park, you will see that the closer you get to the Shrine the number of lanterns increases. The pathway was created to help visitors clear their minds of all evil. Purification of each person's body happens inside at the Temizuya where it is part of procedure to wash your hands. Every twenty years in the 8th to 19th centuries to keep up the Shinto tradition, though the structure has not change since the Heian period, 794 to 1185.