Tobihino

Sacred Grasslands

in the Heart of Nara Park

Tobihino is a broad grassy field on the grounds of Kasuga Taisha in Nara Park.

Facing the main approach to the shrine, it is known today as a quiet open space where deer often gather and where visitors can enjoy an unobstructed view toward Mount Mikasa, the sacred mountain of Kasuga.

Historical sources presented by Nara’s official tourism bodies note that this area was formerly called Kasugano and functioned as an ancient place of worship connected with the sacred landscape of Kasuga. They also explain that, by the Manyo and Heian periods, it had become a setting for aristocratic recreation such as ball games, seasonal outings, and flower viewing.

Today, Tobihino is valued not as a monument with buildings, but as a cultural landscape. For visitors, it offers a clear sense of how open ground, sacred topography, and the presence of deer continue to shape the atmosphere of Nara.

Explore the Sights

See photos that bring Tobihino to life.

A person standing on a grassy field with trees and forested hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A park scene with green grass, several large trees, and a partly cloudy sky. There are a few people and a group of donkeys under one tree on the right side.
Open grassy park with trees in the background and a partly cloudy blue sky overhead.
A large green park with many trees and a clear, partly cloudy sky.
Open grassy field with trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
People sitting on grass and children wearing red hats playing in a park with large trees and a blue sky.