Walking Kasugayama: From Kasuga-taisha Shrine to the Primeval Forest Trail, the Summit of Mt. Wakakusa, and Nigatsu-do Hall

After paying your respects at Kasuga-taisha Shrine, enter the walking trail of Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Stroll through the forest of giant trees to emerge at the summit of Mt. Wakakusa, and gaze out over the town of Nara. Descend the grassy slopes and finish at the stage of Nigatsu-do Hall. This walking course connects the sacred mountain's forest with town views on foot.

History and Regional Appeal

The setting for this course is the mountains and forests spreading east of Nara Park. Behind Mt. Mikasa, the sacred mountain of Kasuga-taisha Shrine, stretches Kasugayama Primeval Forest. In the year 841 of the Heian period, hunting and tree felling were prohibited by imperial decree, and it has been preserved as sacred ground of Kasuga-taisha Shrine ever since. It was designated a Special Natural Monument in 1955, and in 1998 was inscribed as part of the World Heritage site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."

However, this is not a forest completely untouched by human hands. Records show that in the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi planted about 10,000 cedar trees, and several hundred giant cedars believed to date from that era still remain today. In the early Showa period, a roadway circling the forest was developed. In 1973, access was banned for some vehicles; today, cars can only travel on the Nara Okuyama Driveway, while the rest can be walked as the Kasugayama walking trail. This course follows that walking trail.

Beyond the forest, Mt. Wakakusa is a three-tiered, grass-covered hill standing 342 meters high. To its west at Nigatsu-do Hall, the Shuni-e ceremony, which began in 752, has been carried on continuously without a single interruption.

Major Highlights

• ​Kasuga-taisha Shrine​​: The head shrine of approximately 3,000 Kasuga shrines nationwide. Its grounds, including the sacred mountain, are a World Heritage site, featuring vermilion shrine pavilions standing in the forest. Approximately 3,000 lanterns donated since the Heian period line the precinct. The South Gate, accessed from the main approach (omote-sando), stands 12 meters tall and is the largest two-story gate at Kasuga-taisha Shrine.
• ​Kasugayama Primeval Forest​​: In this broadleaf evergreen forest of castanopsis and oak, giant cedar and fir trees several centuries old stand tall. Even during daytime, the forest is dimly lit and shelters rare creatures such as the forest green tree frog (mori aogaeru), princess cicada (himeharuzemi), and clouded salamander (kasumi sanshouuo).
• ​Mt. Wakakusa​​: From the summit, you can take in panoramic views of Nara town, including Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai-ji Temple, and on clear days, the distant Yamato Sanzan Mountains and Mt. Ikoma may also be visible. The Uguisuzuka Kofun at the summit is a 103-meter-long keyhole-shaped burial mound, with a stone monument inscribed "Uguisu-ryo" standing on its circular rear mound.
• ​Nigatsu-do Hall​​: A National Treasure hall built facing west on a steep slope. Stepping out onto the stage, you can gaze directly toward the grand roof of the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) and the Nara Basin. In front of the hall stands the Robensugi cedar, associated with a legend that priest Roben was carried off by an eagle in his childhood and left in its branches.

Recommended Route and Duration

The approximate time required is about 5 hours. The Mt. Wakakusa loop section of the Kasugayama walking trail alone covers about 4.5 kilometers along mountain paths, so please wear comfortable walking shoes. This course can only be walked while Mt. Wakakusa is open to visitors. The opening period is typically from the third Saturday of March to the second Sunday of December; during the winter closure, it cannot be walked in this order. Entry hours are also set, so starting your walk in the morning will give you peace of mind.

From JR or Kintetsu Nara Stations, take a bus bound for Kasuga-taisha Honden (Main Sanctuary) for about 11 to 15 minutes. Schedules and times vary by season, so please check before boarding. After visiting Kasuga-taisha Shrine, it is about a 5-minute walk from the Kasuga-taisha Honden bus stop to the north entrance of the Kasugayama walking trail.

From here, follow the approximately 4.5-kilometer "Mt. Wakakusa Loop Course" noted in Nara Prefecture guidance. Enter the forest by Mizuya-jinja Shrine and the teahouse, walk about 2.5 kilometers to the Kamatogi checkpoint station, and continue for another 0.5 kilometers to reach the summit of Mt. Wakakusa. Up to this point, stepping off the walking trail into the forest is not permitted.

At the summit, locate the "Uguisu-ryo" stone monument at Uguisuzuka Kofun before taking in the expansive view. The descent follows a paid trail of about 1.5 kilometers, passing through the third, second, and first tiers while shifting vistas unfold toward the base. The grassy slopes are steeper than they appear, so please mind your footing.

Once at the bottom, walk west to Nigatsu-do Hall. From the stage, gaze out across the expanse of the Nara Basin, lying opposite the eastern mountains you have just walked. To return, you can take a city loop bus back to the station from the Todaiji Daibutsuden / Kasugataisha-mae bus stop.

Summary of the Experience

Transition from vermilion shrine pavilions into a dimly lit forest, walk among giant ancient trees, and emerge onto a bright, grassy summit. Descend the hill and view the expansive Nara Basin from the stage of Nigatsu-do Hall. It is a day spent connecting on foot the forest protected for over a millennium with the historic capital at its feet.