Kasuga Grand Shrine

Kasuga Grand Shrine was built in the eighth century as the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara Family. When Emperor Genmei constructed Heijo Palace in Nara, Kasuga Grand Shrine was granted the status of third most important shrine, after Ise Shrine and Kamo Shrine. About 1,000 bronze hanging lanterns lining a vermilion red corridor reflect the glory of the prosperous family of those days.
Stone lanterns are also seen on both sides of the approach to the shrine. Every year on August fourteenth and fifteenth, 3,000 stone or bronze lanterns are lit. The scenery is very romantic and wonderful.
On the path to Kasuga Grand Shrine there is the Man'yo Botanical Garden where many ancient trees and flowers are planted. 'Murasaki'�@is one of them, and it is referred to in 'Man'yoshu', the book of the oldest Japanese poems.