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Usitour
Church & Religious Site

Meoto Daikoku Shrine

📍 160 Kasugano-cho, Nara (within Kasuga Taisha grounds), Japan
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3.6/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Japan, Nara
Category
Church & Religious Site
Duration
About 30 minutes
Address
160 Kasugano-cho, Nara (within Kasuga Taisha grounds), Japan
Coordinates
34.6797, 135.8492

Introduction

Meoto Daikoku-sha is a matchmaking shrine deep inside the grounds of Kasuga Taisha, in the Mount Kasuga primeval forest of World Heritage Nara — the only shrine in Japan to enshrine the divine couple Okuninushi no Mikoto and Suseri-hime no Mikoto together. The pair is said to have been welcomed from Izumo Taisha and carved in the Heian period, some nine centuries of prayers for marital harmony. The fifteenth and final stop of the Wakamiya fifteen-shrine pilgrimage, it is famed for wisteria love charms, pink heart-shaped ema and water divination that reveals its message when dipped.

✨ Highlights

1
Divine couple
Japan's only shrine to Okuninushi and Suseri-hime together.
2
Pilgrimage finale
Shrine no.15 of the Wakamiya fifteen-shrine round.
3
Water divination
A blank slip dipped in the tank reveals a heart-shaped message.
4
Heart ema
Pink heart-shaped plaques in many languages.
5
Wisteria charms
Love charms themed on Kasuga Taisha's wisteria.
6
Kasuga forest
A quiet shrine set in the cedar primeval forest.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：160 Kasugano-cho, Nara (within Kasuga Taisha), Japan
→Time needed：About 30 minutes
→Opening Hours：Kasuga Taisha grounds 6:00-18:00 (6:30-17:00 Nov-Mar); goshuin 9:00-16:30

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Free AdmissionFree within Kasuga Taisha grounds

Goshuin JPY 500

Transportation

Bus

Nara Kotsu bus from Kintetsu Nara Sta. to Kasuga Taisha Omotesando, ~10-min walk

Note

~15 min by bus from JR Nara Sta.; use the Kasuga Taisha car park

💡 Tips

• Goshuin stamps cost JPY 500; the office serves roughly 9:00-16:30.
• Walk it with Kasuga Taisha's main halls, Hibiki-no and Nara Park.
• The shrine sits deep in the primeval forest — keep the grounds quiet.
• Nara Kotsu bus from Kintetsu Nara Sta. to Kasuga Taisha Omotesando, ~10 min on foot.
• Water divination needs a few minutes dipped before the text appears.
• Mid-April wisteria season is the best time to visit and photograph.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Meoto Daikoku Shrine?

Kasuga Taisha grounds 6:00-18:00 (6:30-17:00 Nov-Mar); goshuin 9:00-16:30

How much is the admission for Meoto Daikoku Shrine?

Free Admission: Free within Kasuga Taisha grounds; Goshuin JPY 500

Any practical tips for visiting Meoto Daikoku Shrine?

Goshuin stamps cost JPY 500; the office serves roughly 9:00-16:30. Walk it with Kasuga Taisha's main halls, Hibiki-no and Nara Park.

How long should I spend at Meoto Daikoku Shrine?

A typical visit takes About 30 minutes.

How do I get to Meoto Daikoku Shrine?

Bus: Nara Kotsu bus from Kintetsu Nara Sta. to Kasuga Taisha Omotesando, ~10-min walk