NAGANO TRIP 
Togakushi(戸隠) is visited about 1.5 million tourists every year, so popular destination in Nagano. The place has some mysterious and historical episodes. Visitors must feel natural energy from this area.
The temperature in summer season is lower than metropolitan. Togakushi is well known as a cool place in the summer season. Togakusshi is at high elevation, so UV light is higher than it is at a lower elevation.
What is Togakushi Shrine?
There is 5 shrines are called Togakushi Shine (Togakushi jinja) (戸隠神社). These shrines were constructed for 2000 years ago. This place is famous as a power spot. If you can all shrines, probably you will get good things.
Togakushi is well known as a holy place for a long time ago, many worshipers visit Togakushi shrines every year. Visitors can enjoy collaboration in historical shrines and autumn leaves. On the other hand, Togakushi Soba is famous because Togakushi has pure and rich water.
| ADDRESS | 3506, Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano prefecture |
| CATEGORY | Historic Place |
| SEASON | Summer ~ Autumn |
| PARKING | There are both free and paid parking. |
| ACCESS | The city center of Nagano to Togakushi about 40 minutes by car. |
Access to Togakushi Shrine
It is 1 hour’s drive from Nagano station. Visitors can go to Nagano station from Tokyo station by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Therefore Togakushi is a good access location from Tokyo.
Access to Togakushi Shrine from Nagano station by Bus
The nearest station is Nagano Station that is the biggest station in Nagano prefecture.
However, Togakushi is not a good access place by train and bus from the Nagano station. After you get off the train, you need to ride the bus that departure Number 7 bus stop in Nagano Station. If you want to know the time and more detail about the bus, please look below the site that is HP of the bus company.
Access to Togakushi Shrine from Haneda Airport
1, Approximately 20 minutes, Haneda Airport International Terminal Station to Hamamatucho Station (490 yen/ Tokyo-Monorail Local)
2, Approximately 7 minutes, Hamamatucho Station to Tokyo Station (160 yen/ Keihintohoku Line Local)
3, Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, Tokyo Station to Nagano Station (8,000 yen/ Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka)
Access to Togakushi Shrine from Narita Airport
1, Approximately 1 hour, Narita Airport International Terminal 1 to Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit (1,000 yen/ Narita-Airport Limousine Bus Airport Shuttle Bus)
2, Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, Tokyo Station to Nagano Station (8,000 yen/ Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka)
Togakushi Shrine MAP
Must visit 5 Togakushi Shrines
Togakushi Shrine is constructed from 5 shrines. These shrine has originality and each history and power. If you visit all five, surely something good will happen to you!
Togakushi Shrine Hokosha(宝光社)
Hokosha is Togakushi Shrine in front of Nagano Station. There is a parking lot in the foreground. The stairs are quite long, about 270 steps. There are the most stairs on the steps of Togakushi Shrine. Winter season, Steps are covered with snow, visitors should visit without winter season.
Togakushi Shrine Okusha(奥社)・Kuzuryusha(九頭龍社)
If you go to Okusha, let’s eat a soft ice cream made with Nagano’s fruits at the soft ice cream shop in front of you! It takes less than one hour to walk slowly from Okusha parking lot to Okusha / Kuzuryusha. Walk on the approach to the cool Osugi trees even in summer. This cedar tree is a famous place and a photo spot.
Togakushi Shrine Hinomikosha(火之御子社)
Hinomikosha is the smallest of the five Togakushi Shrines. The atmosphere is friendly and quiet among the five Togakushi Shrines. The parking lot is in front of the shrine. About 5 minutes drive from Hokkosha.
Togakushi Shrine Chusha(中社)
Chusha is the biggest shrine in five Togakushi Shrines. There are soba restaurants and souvenir shops nearby. In Chusha, you can also fortune, so let’s try it.
Togakushi Shrine’s best famous photo spot
Have you ever looked at this picture? I think exactly this place is one of the most famous photo spots at Togakushi. Recently this location is spread on Instagram. There this road is from parking to Togakushi shrine Okusha. Let’s try taking the best photo in Togakushi shrine Okusha!
Eating Togakushi Soba
Togakushi is a famous place that visitors can eat delicious Japanese noodles (SOBA). Togakushi Soba is a little bit different than usual soba. Usually, Soba is one bunch on the plate. However, Togakushi Soba is a small bunch on the plate. This style is called “Bocchi Mori”. It is original in Togakushi.
→WHAT’S JAPANESE SOBA NOODLES? HOW TO EAT
Around Togakuhsi Shrine is Ninja Town!
There are some ninja spots in Togakushi. Not only Kids and Family can look to history and ninja goods but also visitors can enjoy experiencing ninja!
Togakushi Ninja Karakuri Yashiki
If you are interested in Ninja, We recommend Ninja Karakuri Yashiki where there is near the parking of Okusha and Kuzuryusha. Karakuri Yashiki (house of tricks and illusions) was developed in order to protect techniques for the manufacture of explosives from being stolen by the enemy’s spies.
Togakuhsi Kids Ninja Village (Chibiko Ninja Mura)
If you have children, we recommend another ninja spot. Kids Ninja Village has a lot of enjoyable ninja attractions for children. Visitors can wear Ninja’s costume and take a ninja photo! Togakushi has many spots but it is recommended because Kids ninja Village can be played even on rainy days.
→The Best Ninja Experience In Japan
HikingTogakushi Shrine to Kagami Pond
There is Kagami-ike Pond near the Togakushi shrine, Okusha. Visitors can hike a path from Okusha to Kagami pond. Kagami means miller. Togakushi mountains are reflected in the surface of Kagami-ike Pond. Unfortunately, this picture did not become the miller. However, if you can visit when not windy, you will look miller landscape.
Looking to lovely Togakushi shrine’s Komainu
At Okusha, there is one ”Komainu”. Komainu is a guardian statue at the entrance of a Shinto shrine. Usual type’s komainu is rising their head. However, at Togakushi shrine, okusha, there is precious komainu who is rising their hip! It is cute! The style of Komainu depends on the period. Please look for hip up style’s komainu.
Enjoy Togakushi Shrine in the winter
Togakushi Shrine is a beautiful photo spot in the winter Nagano area. Recently there are increasing the number of tourists in the winter. They can enjoy treating snow roads.
The walking road is prepared, visitors can walk at any time.
Skiing and Snowboarding at Togakushi Ski Resort Area
Togakushi Ski Resort is a medium-sized ski area at Togakushi, Nagano city. The area has over 20 courses which are a diverse variation between beginners to hard skiers. I recommend the peak point of ski resort because visitors can look to Mt, Fuji! Visitors can enjoy good powder snow and an amazing landscape!
Things to be careful of Togakushi Shrine
Togakushi shrine winter
Visitors can go to Togakushi in the winter. However, Togakushi is well known that is a lot of snow area in Nagano prefecture. I recommend wearing snow boots.
There are many sightseeing places around Togakushi Shrine
Togakushi Shrines has a lot of attractive points! And visitors can enjoy different sides of the shrine each season. There are other attractive historical places around Togakushi Shrine. Please read the below articles!
→11 Historical Places in Nagano You Need to Visit in Your Japan Travel
