By ando 
Togakushi Jinja, nestled at the foot of the sacred Mount Togakushi in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. This sacred site boasts a history of over two millennia, enshrining kami (deities) connected to a pivotal scene in Japanese mythology: the ‘Opening of Ama-no-Iwato’ (Heavenly Rock Cave).
Basic Information about Togakushi Jinja
Togakushi Jinja is comprised of five distinct shrines (Go-sha):
Okusha (Upper Shrine): The enshrined kami is Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-mikoto. This kami bestows good fortune, grants wishes, and ensures victory in sports.
Chusha (Middle Shrine): The enshrined kami is Ame-no-Yagokoro-Omoikane-no-mikoto. This kami is associated with wisdom, academic success, and business prosperity.
Hokosha (Lower Shrine): The enshrined kami is Ame-no-Uwaharu-no-mikoto. This kami is for pioneering, scholarship, safe childbirth, and is a guardian deity of women and children.
Kuzuryusha (Nine-Headed Dragon Shrine): The enshrined kami is Kuzuryu Okami (Great Kami of the Nine-Headed Dragon). This local guardian kami oversees water, the source of life. It is also famous as the kami of dental health.
Hinomikosha (Fire Child Shrine): The enshrined kami is Ame-no-Uzume-no-mikoto. This kami is associated with dance, performing arts, and matchmaking.
Legend and Mystery: The “Rock Door” that Fell from the Sky
A grand myth lies hidden in the origins of Togakushi Jinja.
When Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Kami, hid in Ama-no-Iwato (the Heavenly Rock Cave) and plunged the world into darkness, Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-mikoto, a kami of unparalleled strength, threw the rock door with all his might. It is said that the rock door flew through the sky and landed where present-day Mount Togakushi now stands.
This is why it’s called ‘Togakushi’ – literally, the ‘door-hiding mountain.’ This dynamic legend still breathes life into the rugged mountainscape of this region.
The Kuzuryu Legend and the “Toothache” Story
Kuzuryusha, believed to be the oldest of the five shrines, holds a mysterious legend of a dragon kami.
Once, a monk named Gakumon was practicing asceticism on Mount Togakushi when a nine-headed dragon appeared before him. This dragon later became a benevolent kami and came to be enshrined as a deity overseeing water.
What’s interesting is that this Kuzuryu Okami is also revered as the ‘kami of dental health.’ There’s a legend that in ancient times, people suffering from toothaches offered pears and prayed, and their pain disappeared. Even today, worshippers praying for healthy teeth continue to visit.
Awe-Inspiring Sacred Site: The Cedar Avenue of Okusha Sando
Speaking of the iconic scenery of Togakushi Jinja, it’s the approximately 2-kilometer sando (approach path) leading to Okusha.
Passing through the red Zuishinmon gate midway along the path, you’ll find a ‘suginamiki’ (cedar avenue) where over 300 giant cedars, some over 400 years old, stand majestically.
This spot became famous after actress Sayuri Yoshinaga visited it in a JR East commercial. It is one of Japan’s foremost power spots; step onto the path, and the atmosphere changes completely, with a sacred presence that feels palpable.
Anime Pilgrimage Information
Togakushi Jinja is known as a pilgrimage site for fans of the popular kyudo (Japanese archery)-themed anime, ‘Tsurune -Kazemai High School Kyudo Club-.’
The shrine served as a model for the location where the protagonists visit for their training camp, with the Okusha’s cedar avenue, Zuishinmon gate, and the area around Chusha beautifully depicted. The spirituality of drawing a bow in silence perfectly matches Togakushi’s solemn atmosphere, attracting many fans seeking ‘the power of tranquility.’
Furthermore, Togakushi is the birthplace of ‘Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu,’ and nearby is the Togakushi Folk Museum and Togakure-ryu Ninpo Museum. For fans of ninja-related works (such as ‘NARUTO’), it’s an interesting area where they can experience its historical background.
After Your Visit, Enjoy “Togakushi Soba”
After getting tired from visiting all five shrines, you mustn’t miss ‘Togakushi Soba,’ one of Japan’s three great soba noodle dishes.
It is characterized by its unique ‘bocchi-mori’ serving style (small bundles) and has a history as an offering to the kami.
Togakushi Jinja, where the overwhelming energy flowing since mythological times intersects with the world of anime. When you want to forget the everyday and purify your mind and body, there is no better place.