Japan - Nara - decorative lanterns in Kasuga Grand Shrine

The Kasuga Grand Shrine (or Kasuga Taisha) in Nara is one of the best Shinto shrines in Japan. Originally the royal shrine of the powerful Fujiwara family, Kasuga Grand Shrine was founded in 768 and, according to Shinto concepts of purity, was torn down and rebuilt every 20 years in its original form until 1863. The shrine itself features vermilion-colored pillars and an astounding 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns. They were donated over the years by common people as tokens of faith and thankfulness, and used to be lit every night. Now they are only lit a few days each year.