Kasuga Taisha Shrine was founded to protect the Heijo-kyo Capital and is the head shrine for about 3,000 Kasuga shrines all over Japan. At the “Mantoro Festival”, about 2,000 stone lanterns along the path leading to the shrine and approx. 1,000 hanging lanterns in the main precinct are lit creating a solemn atmosphere. About 300 kinds of trees and plants are planted in the “Kasuga Taisha Shrine Sin'en Park”. All of them appear in Japan's oldest poetry anthology, “Man'yoshu.