Togakushi Jinja

Map

History & Origins

According to myth, Togakushi-yama is where the mighty deity Ame-no-Tajikarao hurled the rock door of the cave where the sun goddess hid. The site has over 1,000 years of history as a sacred ground for Shugendo ascetic practices and syncretic Buddhist-Shinto worship.

Highlights

The approach to the inner shrine (Oku-sha), lined with cedar trees approximately 400 years old and stretching about 2 km, is an awe-inspiring experience. The climb up the steep mountain trail to the inner shrine intensifies the sense of spiritual energy.

Visitor Guide

Visiting all five shrines (Hokosha, Hinomikoja, Chusha, Kuzuryusha, and Okusha) requires 3–4 hours in total. The round trip to Okusha alone takes about 2 hours.

Best Season

May–June for fresh greenery, October for autumn foliage, and winter for a stunning snow-covered landscape.

Blessings

Annual Events

• May

  Reitaisai (Grand Annual Festival)

  A spring grand festival held at each of the five shrines. Solemn rituals are performed to give thanks to the deities of Togakushi and to pray for peace in the region.

• Year of the Monkey

  Shikinen Taisai and Hashiramatsu Shinji (Periodic Grand Festival and Pillar Pine Ritual)

  A grand festival held every seven years (the next is scheduled for Reiwa 9). It is a powerful ritual in which a pillar pine tens of meters tall is raised and set alight, and it is the most important festival representing Togakushi.

Travel Plan

Plan Your Trip