Togakure Ninpo Museum

What to know

The Togakure Ninpo Museum (戸隠流忍法資料館, Togakure-ryū Ninpō Shiryōkan) is dedicated to the local Togakure school of ninja. In the 12th century, a warrior from Nagano fled to Iga after losing a war between the Minamoto and Taira clans. Iga was the traditional heartland of the ninja, and the warrior learned ninja skills there before returning to Nagano to establish his own ninja school.

The museum sits in forested mountains about an hour by bus northwest of central Nagano, just across the entrance to the Upper Togakushi Shrine. It comprises several buildings, one of which displays tools and weapons used by Togakure ninja, along with fascinating photos of them practicing warfare and infiltration techniques.

The museum also features a Ninja House, a building that looks ordinary from the outside but hides many secret doors, passages, and contraptions inside. Navigating the cleverly designed maze is great fun. There is also a shuriken (throwing star) range where visitors can try their hand at throwing shuriken at target boards for a small fee.

Within the same compound is the Museum of Togakushi Folklore, which exhibits tools, clothing, containers, and furniture used by local people in the past.

Express buses for tourists run every hour between Nagano Station, the Togakure Ninpo Museum, and the Togakushi shrines. To reach the museum, get off at the Togakushi-Okushairiguchi bus stop (戸隠奥社入口, 60 minutes, 2000 yen one way). Seat reservations should be made in advance online or at the Alpico Bus ticket office at Nagano Station, though it is possible to board without a reservation if seats are available.

A separate bus runs hourly between the museum and the shrines for 400 yen per ride.