Togakushi Shrine, Shinto shrine complex at Mount Togakushi, Nagano, Japan
Togakushi is a sprawling shrine with five separate buildings spread across forested mountain slopes, connected by paths under tall trees. The individual areas sit at different elevations, with some only a few minutes apart while others require longer walks.
The uppermost shrine arose more than two thousand years ago as a place of worship in the mountains. The entire complex changed during the Meiji Restoration from a Buddhist temple compound to a pure shrine.
The name comes from a legend in which gods moved a rock to draw the Sun Goddess out of a cave. Visitors see small buildings and water basins at several spots where worshippers perform ritual cleansing before entering the sacred areas.
Buses run hourly from Nagano Station to the different shrine areas, with the trip taking between 55 and 70 minutes depending on the destination. The paths between buildings sometimes cross uneven ground, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
A two-kilometer path to the uppermost building leads through a forest of Japanese cedars several centuries old, their trunks lining the route. These trees form a dense canopy that lets little light through even on sunny days.
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