[2025 Nagano Attraction] Travel Guide for Togakushi-Jinja (Updated Jan)

Many people know the name of Kumano Kodo, but Nagano also has an ancient road - Togakushi Kodo, which becomes one of the most attractive hiking routes in Japan in winter. . Togakushi Shrine is located at the foot of Mount Togakushi in northwest Nagano and is a collective name for five shrines: Okusha, Kuzuryusha, Chusha, Hino-mikosha, and Hokosha. The main experience here is the 6 km pilgrimage route to the five shrines, with towering trees and a snowy environment that will leave a lasting impression. . The order of the five shrines is Hokosha → Hino-mikosha → Chusha → Okusha → Kuzuryusha. The most famous tree-lined path is at the entrance of Okusha, with 400-year-old cedar trees that are so tall and thick that they seem to have no top, creating a solemn and awe-inspiring scene that is perfect for photos! . 🚌Transportation: You can take a bus at Platform 7 of Nagano Station. There is a ticket station next to the platform where you can buy a full-day pass for JPY 3,000 per person, which allows unlimited rides on these buses all day. Each shrine has a bus stop, and you can also take the bus back to Nagano City. . 🎿Travel gear: It snowed a while ago, so you can wear a 3-in-1 jacket or a thin waterproof down jacket, a sweater, and thermal pants. Wear high-top hiking shoes, and it is recommended to bring crampons and trekking poles, as the steps are quite slippery. ⚠⚠⚠Buses do not go to Okusha in winter⚠ December 14, 2024 - March 31, 2025 Buses only go to Chusha, not Okusha⚠To visit the ancient cedar path of Okusha, you must walk about 40 minutes from Chusha to the entrance of Okusha, and then walk about 2 hours round trip to see Okusha. . ❗Please cherish every restroom you encounter! Because they are rare! Some are even closed! 🍝Restaurant: On the way back to the entrance of Okusha, there is a soba noodle restaurant with a nice taste and a beautiful view by the window! You can pay electronically, but there may be no signal in the store, so you can prepare cash just in case. ⛩Five shrines introduction: 1⃣ Hokosha •Deity: Ame-no-Uwaharu-no-Mikoto •Blessings: Academic progress📚, skill improvement🎨, safe childbirth and child-rearing👶. 2⃣ Hino-mikosha •Deity: Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto •Blessings: Performing arts improvement💃, good luck in love💌. 3⃣ Chusha •Deity: Ame-no-Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto •Blessings: Career success💼, academic achievement🎓, good luck🌟. 4⃣ Kuzuryusha •Deity: Kuzuryu-no-Okami •Blessings: Wealth💰, agricultural harvest🌾, rain and water protection💦. 5⃣ Okusha •Deity: Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-Mikoto •Blessings: Wish fulfillment🎯, good luck and protection🛡

Japan's winter season, with its long-lasting snow period, sees Nagano, located in the central highlands of the 'Roof of Japan,' as a major snowfall area. Unlike the crowded and chilly Hokkaido, the serene and majestic Nagano is much gentler. Here, you can enjoy skiing, hot springs, and sightseeing just as well. I personally have a strong preference for natural and cultural landscapes and am not very interested in urban shopping. When I first saw these photos, I thought they were so beautiful that I had to visit. For the sake of a few pictures, I went to [Nagano] 🌲 💫 Travel Tips: ✅ Narai-juku: A post town that is more Kyoto than Kyoto itself, perfectly preserving the Showa era's charm with little commercial atmosphere. If you have enough time, you can stay overnight in the town. ✅ Togakushi Shrine: A mystical shrine that enshrines five Shinto shrines. The ancient path leading to the Okusha is lined with cedar trees over 400 years old, which look even more stunning covered in snow. If you want to visit the Okusha, be careful as the stairs and slopes at the end are very slippery. ✅ Jigokudani Monkey Park: You can watch monkeys soaking in hot springs. It is recommended to visit in the very cold winter or early in the morning to see the snow monkeys soaking voluntarily. ✅ Hakuba Village: A former Winter Olympics host site and one of Japan's top three ski resorts. A must-visit for skiing in Nagano, with multiple ski areas and abundant snow trails. Ski enthusiasts should not miss this place. ⭐ Recommended Hot Springs: ♨️ Shibu Onsen: With over 1300 years of history, strolling through the narrow alleys in the evening wearing a yukata and wooden clogs feels like being in the world of Spirited Away. There are nine public hot springs, each with its own unique features (each is said to have different therapeutic effects!). The nearby hot spring town is retro and quiet, with shops and restaurants, so you won't be bored after soaking in the hot springs.

#awesomepic Great little temple with some manicured conifers, nice little cemetery out the back. Togakushi-jinja Shrine, located at the base of Mt. Togakushi to the northwest of Nagano, is connected to one of Japan's most enduring legends. #awesomepic

The ancient road of the Hidden Shrine is 2 kilometers long. In the shrine, there is no hierarchical status. Everyone treats all the same people. Whether it is a nobleman or a civilian, you must walk down here. The person wearing the hat needs to take off the hat when passing the torii. When walking, you need to walk on both sides of the road, because the middle is God walking. This road is very long, but the environment is also awesome. The towering trees stand on both sides of the road, making the whole road look solemn. There is a building in the way of one kilometer. It is called "Following the Gate of God". It is the door to the evil spirits entering the shrine courtyard. The thatched roof and the vermilion red color are a quiet and quiet place away from the world. There are some stones piled up by pedestrians along the way. It can be seen that these acts are full of faith. The trees became taller after passing the gate, and the leaves on both sides were reddish and full of autumn flavor. I like this color and I like the feeling here. Even with some pedestrians, I feel in a world that nobody disturbs.

❄️Winter travel in Japan is no longer exclusive to Hokkaido! Nagano's snow scenery will bring you to tears. 🌟Looking for a different winter experience? Turn your attention to Nagano! Just 1.5 hours from Tokyo, this little-known treasure hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. It's a place of rare beauty and tranquility, with every corner offering a picturesque view waiting to be explored🎉. 【🎈Recommended Activities】 1️⃣Shiga Kogen Ski Resort⛷️ ❄️With 18 ski resorts of varying sizes, this is a paradise for ski enthusiasts, and there are many hot spring hotels to choose from. It's a popular destination for Western tourists, and the snow-covered Northern Alps in the distance make skiing and sightseeing a delight😍. 【Transportation🚍】: Take a bus from the east exit of Nagano Station to Shiga Kogen, about 1 hour (passing by Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can see the hot spring monkeys before coming here). 2️⃣Togakushi Shrine⛩️ 🌲Many people are drawn to Nagano by a single photo. Walking among the ancient cedar trees over 400 years old feels like stepping into another mysterious world, a breathtaking and indescribable experience🤩. 【How to get there🚏】: 4. Exit Nagano Station from the west exit, and cross the street to bus stop No. 7 (next to the post office and Don Quijote, which are easy to recognize). 5. Take a bus directly to Togakushi Chusha, the fare is 1,350 yen one way, the journey takes about 1 hour, the first bus is at 8:30, and there is one bus per hour. 6. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Chusha to the entrance of Okusha. ❄️Tips: 👢If the snow is heavy, it may be deep, so it's recommended to wear waterproof clothes and pants. Since it's in the mountains, the temperature is low, so keeping warm is also important🧣. Choose non-slip, professional snow hiking shoes, and use trekking poles for added safety🥾. 3️⃣Jigokudani Monkey Park🐒🎫Adults 800 yen 💧The hot springs here have a history of 35 million years, and the monkeys accidentally discovered that the steaming pool could keep them warm, making hot spring bathing a regular winter activity. Watching them enjoy it is truly enviable😄. 【How to get there🚍】: 5. From Nagano, take a bus from the east exit of Nagano Station to Shiga Kogen, and get off at Jigokudani Monkey Park, about 40 minutes. 6. After getting off, walk about 40 minutes to reach the entrance of Jigokudani Monkey Park. ❄️Tips: 7. No need to rush to see the monkeys, as staff feed them near the hot spring pool at noon every day, and the clever monkeys will show up on time🥳. 8. Do not feed or touch the monkeys🙅.

Nagano is the capital of Nagano Prefecture and was once the host city of the Winter Olympics. The Zenkoji Temple is very famous. As the hotel room was not ready, I left my luggage and went straight to the temple. Zenkoji Temple is not far from Nagano Station, and you can take a bus or walk there. It was snowing heavily (the weather forecast said it was light snow, but it didn't look like it), and the scenery was different from that on a sunny day. I mentioned earlier that the transportation in Nagano is a bit inconvenient. I really felt it when I went to Togakushi Shrine, as there is only one bus (No. 70) that goes there (about one bus per hour). I originally planned to get on the bus at the stop near the hotel (it should be the second or third stop), but the bus was full and skipped the stop. I had to walk to the Nagano Station terminal and found a long line of people waiting for the bus. I doubted whether I could get on the next bus, but fortunately, the staff came out to check the situation and immediately arranged an extra bus. In addition, if there is no seat on the bus, you have to stand for more than an hour, which is quite exhausting, especially for someone like me who carries a camera bag. I went to Togakushi Shrine mainly to see the towering trees, and the snow scene was quite nice.

My trip to Nagano and Tokyo in late October was truly splendid. In Nagano, the breathtaking autumn foliage at Zenko-ji Temple was a highlight, along with the serene beauty of the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Tokyo dazzled with its vibrant mix of tradition and modernity; exploring the historic Asakusa district and the bustling streets of Shibuya was unforgettable. The blend of cultural experiences and stunning landscapes made this journey exceptional.

Togakushi Shrine is a shrine with a history of over 2,000 years since its founding, consisting of five shrines: Okusha, Nakasha, Hokosha, Kuzuryusha, and Hinomikosha, located at the foot of the sacred mountain Togakushi. It developed around Togakushi Mountain, where it is said that the "Amanoiwato" (Cave of Heaven) flew down and took its current form in the distant age of the gods, and the deities enshrined there are those who made contributions to the "Ceremony of Opening the Cave of Heaven". At the end of the Heian period, it was a sacred place known even to the capital as a training ground for Shugendo. Today, it is also famous as a power spot, so be sure to visit the five shrines and feel the nature of the sacred area! Nearest station: Nagano Station Take a bus from Nagano Station to Togakushi (1 hour) Address: 3506 Togakushi, Nagano City Area: Nakasha Phone number: 026-254-2001 Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 #0 yen travel autumn

The atmosphere of Snow White Shrine is very different 🕰️Business hours: Please check the shrine business hours on google app 📍Address: Togakushi Shrine Central Shrine, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture 💞Recommendation reason: Beautiful forest road, more romantic in the snow season 🗓️Itinerary: Departing from Nagano City——》Togakushi Shrine——>Must-eat soba noodles for lunch——>Zenkoji Temple in Nagano——>Food shopping around Zenkoji Temple #火狐神社 #火狐神社中社 #长野県観光

"Togakushi Shrine Hokosha" in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 Built in 1861. It is the oldest of the five Togakushi shrines. The deity enshrined is Ameno-Uwaharu-no-Mikoto, the son of Ayanokokoro-Omoikane-no-Mikoto, the deity enshrined at the Nakasha shrine, and is said to be the god of learning, arts and crafts, sewing, safe childbirth, and women and children. After climbing the steep stone steps, a magnificent shrine building is right in front of you. The sculptures are wonderful and well worth seeing. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Togakushi Shrine Hokosha ꕥAddress: 3506 Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture ꕥAccess 🚌🚏Nagano Station →🚏Togakushi Hokosha →🚶About 3 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #TogakushiShrine #ShrineTour #NaganoSightseeing #NaganoTrip

#cherryblossom2024 One of the most beautiful places in Nagano. There was heavy snow, and that was fun to walk throughout the way until we reached the shrine. The shrine on the top is usually closed during winters. But the pathway is beautiful.Majestic experience if you get to hike among all 5 shrines. Direct bus loop departing from Nagano Station. About an hour ride up to the mountain, and about 2-3 hours walk for the while hiking trip. Visited during winter with heavy snow. Beware of the slippery ice, and be equipped with boots. The final segment with the trees may be closed during snow melting season. Be sure to double check with local before you go.

The ancient cedar trees here are all over 400 years old, among which one is over 800 years old. In front of these tree gods, we seem so insignificant, just like a falling leaf. It seems that we can feel the mysterious charm emitted by nature. The surroundings are quiet, only the rustling sound of the breeze gently brushing the leaves and the squeaking sound of feet stepping on the snow, as if telling ancient legends and stories. Forest, stream, wild flowers, moss, the air is full of the smell of spring, it is really hard to describe, "Suddenly encountering a peach blossom forest, a few hundred steps along the bank, there are no miscellaneous trees, the grass is fresh and beautiful, and the fallen flowers are colorful" "The land is flat and open, the houses are solemn, there are good fields, beautiful ponds, mulberries and bamboos. The roads are interconnected, and the chickens and dogs hear each other. Among them, men and women are dressed like outsiders. The old with yellow hair and the young with long hair are all happy." Melon cut clear water.