sentinel
Lanterns at Kasuga-taisha 春日大社, lining the edges of the forrest like giant stone mushrooms.
the slow burn
A few people were in the main shrine buildings, where bronze and gold lanterns consume the corridors, hanging from every available point.
Outside, the forrest around Kasuga-taisha 春日大社 pulled away the noise and all that was left was the light spilling through.
vanishing points
Although Kasuga-taisha 春日大社 may not be high on the list of destinations for most tourists, I felt it was one of the best shrines to visit. Its layout is unique and there is plenty to absorb and appreciate if you like architecture and design.
There are two points in the year where they light 3,000 of the lanterns, which must be a beautiful sight. Maybe one day I'll be able to return on the right date for that, but I suspect it will be significantly busier than during my time there!