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Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara hosts its famous Setsubun Mantoro Lantern Festival on February 2, 2025. During the event, the 3,000 bronze lanterns on the shrine precincts are lit simultaneously. Read on to learn event highlights and how to access the venue.
Kasuga Taisha, a major shrine and landmark of Nara City, is one of the oldest shrines in Japan, being established in the 8th century AD by the influential Fujiwara clan.
A distinctive feature of this shrine is its 3,000 bronze lanterns that are lit every February and August, creating a beautiful, other-worldly atmosphere.
The lantern event held in February is known as the Setsubun Mantoro, while the one in August is called the Chugen Mantoro. By lighting all the lanterns, prayers are offered for the fulfillment of people's wishes.
This article provides information about the February Lantern Festival held at Kasuga Taisha, including highlights and access tips.
The highlight of the Setsubun Mantoro Lantern Festival at Kasuga Taisha is undoubtedly the simultaneous lighting of 3,000 lanterns within the shrine grounds.
Kasuga Taisha has 2,000 stone lanterns and 1,000 hanging lanterns, all of which are lit. The sight of the illuminated lanterns is truly breathtaking.
Many of the lanterns, totaling over 3,000, have been donated by devotees of Kasuga's deity from the late Heian period (794-1185) to modern times.
Additionally, there are notable lanterns such as the Yunoki-type stone lantern, donated by Fujiwara no Tadakatsu. There's also a Lapis Lazuli Lantern, donated by Fujiwara no Yorimichi, which is said to be the second oldest stone lantern in Japan.
As mentioned earlier, Kasuga Taisha holds the Setsubun Mantoro in February and the Chugen Mantoro in August each year.
Particularly during the February Setsubun Mantoro, a sacred dance performance takes place around 5:30 PM, followed by the lighting of all the lanterns at around 6 PM.
Below, we've summarized the details of the Setsubun Mantoro Lantern Festival at Kasuga Taisha scheduled for February 2025. If you plan to visit, please use this as a reference.
Date | February 2, 2025 (Sunday) |
Timetable | From around 5:30 PM - Dance performance offering Around 6 PM - Lighting of all lanterns Expected closing around 8:30 PM |
Special Admission Fee | 700 yen |
Venue | Kasuga Taisha Shrine 160 Kasuganocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture |
Official Website | https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/en/about_en/ |
Official SNS | https://www.instagram.com/kasugataisha.official/ |
Photo by Pixta
The nearest station to Kasuga Taisha is Kintetsu Nara Station. From here the shrine grounds can be reached in about 12 minutes on foot.
From JR Nara Station, the walk takes about 25 minutes. We recommend taking a local bus operated by Nara Kotsu. By bus, you’ll arrive at the stop Kasuga Taisha Honden in approximately 10 minutes. Kasuga Taisha is located right where you will get off.
If you're driving, it takes about 60 minutes via the Kyoto Minami IC and the Keihanna Expressway. Kasuga Taisha has a parking lot that can accommodate 100 vehicles. However, it may fill up during busy times, so we recommend using public transportation if possible.
Regarding traffic regulations during the lantern event, it seems there were none implemented in 2024. Please check the official website for updates regarding 2025.