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Kasugayama Primeval Forest
Behind Kasuga Taisha, Nara, Nara Prefecture
Japan
Active (Kasuga Taisha; ~2,200 rituals/yr)
Single grove
- Location
- Behind Kasuga Taisha, Nara, Nara Prefecture
- Coordinates
- ~34.68°N 135.86°E
- Elevation
- Mt. Kasuga (~283–500 m)
- Size
- 298.6 ha
- Age / Founded
- Logging/hunting banned since 841 CE; UNESCO 1998
- Status
- Active (Kasuga Taisha; ~2,200 rituals/yr)
- Deity & Religion
- Kasuga deities (Takemikazuchi etc.); Shinto
- Community & Guardians
- Kasuga Taisha priesthood / Nara community
- Vernacular name
- Chinju no mori (shrine forest)
- Record type
- Single grove
Cultural practices & uses
Shrine forest; subsidiary shrines & 3,000+ stone Buddhas; logging/hunting forbidden 1,180+ yrs
Plant species
~800 plant species, 175 tree kinds (oak, beech)
Biome & fauna
Warm-temperate evergreen forest; clouded salamander, forest green tree frog, 60 birds, 1,180 insects
Threats & protection
UNESCO World Heritage (Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara); Special Natural Monument (1955)
Source
Wikipedia 'Kasugayama Primeval Forest'; Highlighting Japan (gov-online.go.jp)