As the site of Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Mt. Kasuga is a sacred mountain, and as such the felling of trees from its forests has been forbidden for over 1,000 years.
Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest was classified as a World Heritage site in 1998.
You can enjoy a peaceful walk through the forest, starting from just beyond the path to Kasuga-taisha Shrine.
There are two paths, Kasuga-okuyama walking route and Takisaka-no-michi route (to Yagyu). The entrances are close together.
One recommended route takes about four hours (10km): follow the Takisaka-no-michi route to the Kubikiri-jizo (a stone statue) rest area where the two paths meet up again (where you can also enjoy a pleasant walk around a small lake nearby), and then take the Kasuga-Okuyama walking route back to town.
From JR or Kintetsu Nara station, take a bus to “Wariishi ” stop, then walk up the quiet residential road toward the mountains for about 1km.
Takisaka-no-michi is a traditional old stone path.
There are some rest places around the small lake. (No toilet)
You can see many signposts along the path, but only in Japanese.
A translator app can help – Install before your walk.
Kasuga-Okuyama walking route is a pebble path: easy to walk on, but take care for occasional cars passing.
Attention !!
It starts to get dark in the forest from about 4pm, or even earlier. Try to plan your walk to get back before 5pm at the latest.
Please plan your walk carefully.