Nagano · Togakushi Shrine

The day after descending from the Omotesando trail, it rained throughout Nagano Prefecture. Looking for a spot suitable for a rainy day, I decided on Togakushi Shrine. The giant tree forest here reminded me of the massive redwood forests in the United States. While the trees here are slightly smaller in size, they feature more decorative elements, such as shrines, statues, and shimenawa ropes. Strolling through the area on a rainy day felt atmospheric; when it comes to creating a sense of ambiance, Americans fall far behind the Japanese.

At the entrance to the Okusha (Inner Shrine) of Togakushi Shrine, there is a Togakushi-style Ninja Experience Hall. Since I was already there, I decided to check it out, and to my surprise, it turned out to be quite amusing. Essentially, it’s a kind of escape room where you have to find mechanisms in each small room to move on to the next. I ended up being stuck there for 20 minutes. This experience hall is very characteristic of Japan.

Post by 走跳碰 | Jul 31, 2025