Togakushi Shrine, Shinto shrine complex at Mount Togakushi, Nagano, Japan

Togakushi Shrine consists of five sanctuaries on the slopes of Mount Togakushi: Oku-sha, Kuzuryu-sha, Chu-sha, Hino-miko-sha and Hoko-sha. Oku-sha sits below the cliff of Happo-nirami, with Kuzuryu-sha just beneath it; a roughly two-kilometre approach leads to Oku-sha, while Chu-sha is about two kilometres from the approach entrance and Hoko-sha lies further downhill. The approach passes the red Zuishin-mon gate, built in 1710, and a cedar avenue of over 300 Japanese cedars planted in the 17th century.

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.

The roughly two-kilometre approach to Oku-sha is lined with more than 300 Japanese cedars planted in the 17th century, forming an avenue between the Zuijin-mon gate and the shrine. The gate itself dates from 1710 and is the oldest building in the complex.