Nanmon is a two-storied gate standing at the front of Kasuga Taisha Shrine. Having walked along the approach, visitors enter the inner side of the cloisters through this gate. The 12m tall building is the shrine’s largest gate. During the Kasuga Festival(*), a representative is sent from the Imperial Court to the shrine. If the person is not from the Fujiwara family, which was one of Japan’s noble families, they must enter the shrine through this gate.

*Kasuga Festival is not open to the public.