Togakushi Shrine

Togakushi Shrine is a complex of five separate shrines—Okusha, Chusha, Hokosha, Hinomikosha, and Kuzuryusha—spaced along a forested mountain path in Nagano Prefecture. Visitors often hike the entire route to pay respects at all five sites. The journey from the lower shrines to the innermost Okusha takes about two hours on foot.

In Japanese mythology, the site is famous as the location where the sun goddess Amaterasu hid in a cave, plunging the world into darkness. The shrine sits on Mount Togakushi, which legend says is the broken piece of the rock door that was thrown aside to let the light back in. The name "Togakushi" literally translates to "hidden door".

The approach to the Okusha (inner shrine) features a stunning avenue of towering Japanese cedar trees. These massive trees are estimated to be over 500 years old. This beautiful, slightly misty trail is one of the most photographed locations in Nagano Prefecture.

The Togakushi region has deep ties to Togakure-ryu, one of the historical schools of ninjutsu founded by Daisuke Nishina in the 12th century. The Togakushi Ninja Museum is located nearby to educate visitors on this local heritage. The mountainous terrain was an ideal isolated location for ninjas to train in secret.