Lantern Festival @Kasuga Shrine, Nara

I visited Kasuga shrine in Nara on Feb 3rd. In Japan, we consider that this day is one of the days before changes in seasons. As ancient people were afraid spirits or ghosts mess around on seasonal watersheds , festivals and prayers have held throughout Japan for many, many years. As Maybe the idea is similar to Halloween.



Here at Kasuga shrine, Lantern Festival is held every year. This shrine is famous for nearly 3,000 lanterns donated by people since 12th century. This custom was begun by noble men, but later on it became popular among ordinary people, especially merchants.


Poeple donated lanterns praying for a wish (or wishes?) to come true. The oldest stone lantern was donated by a chief adviser to the Emperor, Tadamichi Fujiwara in 1137. But you know, it's not easy to fint it among 3000 lanterns.






Sacred & serene



By paying an admission fee (500yen), you can enter the inner shrine and see ambulatories with famous hanging lanterns. The oldest hanging lantern in this shrine was donated in 1038 by another chief adviser to the Emperor Yorimichi Fujiwara, known for estabilishing Phenix Hall in Uji, Kyoto.










Here, you totally forget your daily life & feel religious devotion of people succeed for nearly 1000 years.


If you have ever visited Nara, you would know why this lantern is special.

Deers, the symbol of Nara;P!!