Togakushi Village | Togakushi Shrine

togakushi village

Togakushi Village | Togakushi Shrine | Ninja Village

Famous throughout Japan, Togakushi Village is an ancient Japanese village with the famous Togakushi Shrine nestling amongst 900 year old cedars. Just one hour from Nagano City, Togakushi is famous for its natural beauty, deep history and spiritual significance. With a shrine in a sacred forest, a long fascinating history, soba noodles famous throughout Japan, and the call of ninja intrigue, the village is yet another of Nagano’s “unknown” destinations.

Quite inaccessible until modern times, for hundreds of years Mt. Togakushi was a haven of esoteric Buddhist practice, frequented by mountain ascetics. It is also a place of dramatic seasonal change experiencing heavy snowfall in winter, bursting into verdant forests and wild flowers through spring and summer, before turning slowly into a dazzling mosaic of gold, amber, and red colours in autumn.

Surrounded by lush mountains Togakushi Village offers something for everyone with kid-friendly ninja parks, a ski field, history museums, soba making schools, hiking trails, flower fields plus much more. The undisputed highlight, however, is the hike along a path lined with towering cryptomeria trees to the Togakushi Shrine in the foothills of Mount Togakushi.

Other historic Nagano sites: Matsushiro | Zenkoji Temple | Togura Kamiyamada | Matsumoto Castle

Togakushi accommodation booking
Check prices and book Togakushi accommodation here
Getting to Togakushi | Togakushi Access

Access to Togakushi Village

The village is a 45 minute drive from Akakura Onsen (Myoko), an hour bus ride from Nagano City, or an hour’s drive from Hakuba or Nozawa Onsen.

The most convenient place to catch public transport is from JR Nagano Station. At the station, take bus numbers 70 or 71 from Stop 7 (map here). Buses depart approximately once per hour and the journey from Nagano to Togakushi takes approximately 60 minutes at a cost of ¥1,150 -¥1,450 one way. You can look up Nagano to Togakushi timetables here. There are several stops to choose from when you arrive including Togakushi-Hokosha (Lower Shrine), Togakushi-Chusha (Middle Shrine) and Togakushi-Okushairiguchi (Upper Shrine). The Okushairiguchi stop is nearest to Kagami-ike (Mirror Pond) while the Chusha stop is the most convenient for those wanting to visit the Ninja Museum.

The Togakushi Kogen Free Kippu travel ticket is available for ¥2,600 (adults) and ¥1,300 (children). This ticket includes, a) a round trip between central Nagano and the Togakushi area, b) free use of buses within Togakushi, and c) one additional bus ride between Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple. Additionally, the Togakushi Kogen Free Kippu can be used over a period of up to five consecutive calendar days so it’s great for those spending more than one day in Nagano City. You can purchase this ticket at the Nagano Station Information Center (map here), the Nagano Bus Terminal, or book a ticket online here

Need a car to visit? Togakushi car rentals. Pick up at Nagano Station.

Togakushi Guide Map | Access Map

Map of Togakushi

Togakushi Guide Map

Guide Map
Togakushi Village Guide Map (click for large view)
Togakushi Shrine | Togakushi Jinja

Togakushi Shrine

Why should we visit Togakushi Shrine?

Originally established as a pilgrimage route over 2,000 years ago, the Togakushi area has a rich history as a place of worship. It is steeped in history and legend with Togakushi Shrine connected to the sun goddess Amaterasu in Japan mythology. The approach to the upper shrine is lined with over 300 cedar trees, some of which are estimated to be up to 900 years old! This is a serene and calming walk that is perfect for both history and nature lovers, although it can get busy during holiday periods and weekends. For those coming by car there are free car parks located a few minutes walk away.

How long does the walk to Togakushi Shrine take?

The local Togakushi Shrine (戸隠神社, Togakushi Jinja) consists of five shrines ⁣(Togakushi Hōkō-sha, Hino-miko-sha, Togakushi Chū-sha, Togakushi Oku-sha and Kuzuryu-sha) in three areas (lower, middle and upper) with each area about 2km apart. To complete the five shrine walk it will take around two and a half hours on average. Make sure you wear good shoes and there is a restroom at the information centre before you start if needed. During winter the paths are closed but snowshoeing may be possible.

More info soon!

Photos thanks to Zekkei Japan

Togakushi Ski Field | Skiing in Togakushi

Togakushi Ski Field

Togakushi Ski Field (aka Togakushi Snow World) is a medium size Nagano ski area that is not quite yet discovered by foreign skiers who tend to head to nearby resorts like Shiga Kogen or Hakuba. Therefore it can be quite deserted, especially on week days. It offers a quite respectable 548 metres of vertical descent, 7 lifts in total with 19 trails, along with many good days of prime Japanese powder snow. It’s a good all round resort catering to a mix of 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced.

Togakushi Ski Field
Glorious views at Togakushi Ski Field

During the season there are buses that run about 9 times each day between Nagano Station and the Togakushi Ski Area (see access above for more details). A day or two here at most will sate your curiosity before moving onto Madarao Kogen, Nozawa Onsen or one of the Myoko ski resorts. If you have a car you can usually reach the resort within 45-60 minutes drive from Akakura Onsen or Hakuba. The resort is open from mid-December through to late-March (depending on snow conditions) with a full range of ski school, ski rental, kids facilities and more. A good choice of Togakushi Village accommodation is available (see and book below or click here).

Togakushi Ski Field stats

More info at the official Togakushi Ski Field website or click here for a Togakushi trail map.

Togakushi Ski Webcam


Togakushi Attractions | Things to do in Togakushi

Things to do in Togakushi

Below are links to some of the many attractions in Togakushi

Togakushi Ninja Village

Ninja Trick House | Togakushi Folk Museum | Togakushi Ninja Museum

Soba  noodle making classes

Hiking in Togakushi

More info on Togakushi attractions is coming soon!

nagano car rental
Need a car to visit? Togakushi car rentals. Pick up at Nagano Station
Accommodation in Togakushi Village | Togakushi Hotels

Togakushi Village Accommodation

Togakushi accommodation bookings

There is a fantastic range of Togakushi Village accommodation to be found if you decide to stay a night or two in the area. These range from traditional temple inns (shukubo) and traveller inns (minshuku) such as Gokui and Rindo to budget accommodation like ZEN Hostel. There is a good range of options for visitors to enjoy a traditional Japanese ryokan stay at Oumeitei Tsuji, Yadoya Shiroganeya, Yokokura or Oshi Ryokan. For those preferring something a little more western style then Togakushi Kogen Hotel should be considered whilst Tabi no Yado Shirakabaso has both western and Japanese style rooms. You can check availability of these and other Togakushi accommodation by entering your dates below or go to our Togakushi map here.


Booking.com


Videos of Togakushi Village

Togakushi Video

Autumn Hues at a Sacred Mountain (27 mins)

The presenter follows the old Togakushi pilgrimage trail, visits the workshop of a craftsman making traditional wares, plus also tries her hand at preparing the local specialty, soba (buckwheat noodles). Finally, she climbs to the top of Mt. Togakushi together with a mountaineering guide.

Togakushi Weather

Togakushi Village Weather

Togakushi Webcams

Togakushi Webcams

Togakushi Webcam Togakushi Webcam Togakushi Webcam

Click on each Togakushi webcam image to enlarge. For more Togakushi webcams head here.

More info coming soon!

Tags: Togakushi Ninja Village, Togakushi accommodation, Togakushi Nagano, Togakushi Shrine, Togakushi Village, Togakushi Japan, Togakushi webcam, Togakushi Ski Field

togakushivillage.com | togakushishrine.com