Togakushi Shrine

What to know

Togakushi Shrine (戸隠神社, Togakushi Jinja) comprises three distinct shrines—lower, middle, and upper—nestled in the forested mountains northwest of central Nagano. These shrines are tied to a key myth in Japanese folklore: after the Sun Goddess's brother misbehaved, she hid in a cave in present-day Takachiho on Kyushu, plunging the world into darkness.

To coax her back, the other deities staged spectacular dances outside the cave. When the Sun Goddess peeked out, one deity seized the cave's stone door and hurled it away, ensuring she could not hide again. That door landed at Togakushi in Nagano Prefecture, giving the area its name—Togakushi literally means "hiding door."

Today, the upper shrine honors the deity who threw the door, while the middle shrine venerates the deity who organized the dances.

Roads and hiking trails connect the shrines up the forested mountain slopes. Visitors first reach the torii gate of the lower shrine, where a long staircase leads to the prayer hall. A two-kilometer ascent brings you to the middle shrine, perched above a small town of shops and restaurants. This shrine features an elegant prayer hall, a small waterfall, and sacred trees over 800 years old.

The upper shrine lies another two kilometers uphill from the middle shrine. From the parking lot and bus stop, a two-kilometer approach lined with over 300 tall cryptomeria trees passes the thatched-roof Zuishinmon Gate and ends with stone steps. The main hall stands dramatically against the steep mountainside of Mount Togakushi, with peaks towering above. Note that the path beyond Zuishinmon Gate closes in winter.

An alternative trail to the upper shrine goes via Kagamiike ("Mirror Pond"), a serene pond that beautifully reflects the surrounding mountains. Also, the Togakure Ninpo Museum sits near the upper shrine entrance, and the Kids Ninja Village is close to the middle shrine, offering fun additions to your visit.