Picture this: a chilly Saturday in Togakushi, Nagano, on November 25th. The snowfall in the forest was doing its thing, turning the whole place into a winter wonderland.
Every branch of the trees bore a delicate layer of snowflakes, and the trails leading to each shrine were blanketed with snow, creating a serene masterpiece.
It was one of those days where nature just showed off; you felt like you were in on some secret magic. Togakushi in the snow? Absolutely breathtaking!
Sachi joined this activity and is my hiking partner. In most cases, she gets well-prepared for my outdoor activities. Thank you for your participation and driving all the way.
Nagano is known for Soba
Soba which is made with newly harvested buckwheat is called ”shin-soba”. It is sweeter and more flavorful than regular soba. It is the season now. Sachi ordered a Togakushi Soba, a cold soba noodle (right). Kanji had a hot one(left) . The middle is a Togakushi craft beer.
My next big challenge is hiking in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand, from February 11th to 18th, 2024.
The park is renowned for its stunning alpine scenery, featuring the country’s highest mountains and largest glaciers. This rugged terrain of ice and rocks is home to 21 peaks exceeding 3000 meters in height. It promises to be an exhilarating adventure in one of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring natural landscapes. I would post this trip after successfully completing this exploration.
Tentive trip itineraly
Date
Discription
Accomodation
Sun, 2/11
Tokyo Narita to Auckland Departs 2:30pm ➡ Arrives 5:05am
I went to Shibu Onsen from November 10th to 11th one night for two days. Shibu Onsen (渋温泉) is a historic and attractive hot spring town in Yamanouchi, Northern Nagano prefectire, which has retained an old traditional atmosphere. There is a spiritual Buthhouse, Aburaya Ryokan which has been tucked away for more than 250 years in the village. This place is believed as the model for Hayao Miyazaki’s animation movie, Sen to Chihiro, but the Stadio Jiburi deneyed it.
Shibu Onsen is spread out on a gentle slope beside the Yokoyugawa River, and hot spring streams rise from various places. Putting on Yukata and Geta, and walking alley in the village is so attractive.
There is a fork at the end of the village: left leading to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, and right to parking lots, dead end.
Wakakiya Ryokan
Staying in a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan is essential for immersing yourself explorelation of Japan. Wakatake Ryokan, runs by a delightfuly eldery couple, is simple yet incredibly comfartable. I thoroughly enjoyed both the meals and the onsen experience at Wakatake Ryokan.
Price: 12,500 yen, including two meals, Dinner and breakfast.
Indoor bath: wooden 100% natural onsen, 24 hours.
Parking: Two parking lots available.
Meals: Traditional Japanese cuisine with seasonal and local ingredients.
Enjoy 9 public Onsen-house
There are 9 public onsen houses with characteristics onsen each on the street. you could enjoy it all 9 for free if you stayed at a Ryokan or Hotel in the village.
Jigokudani Monky Park
Jigokudani Monky Park is nestled in the valley of Yokoyu River, which orignated from Shigakougen in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, it is just about 5 km away from Shibu Onsen Vellege.
The only monky in the world to bath in hot spring
At an altitude of 850 meters, the Monkey Park area is nestled deeper in the mountains from Shibu Onsen Village. It features a valley with steep cliffs and hot spring steam rising from every corner, earning it the name ‘Jigokudani’ in Japanese, which translates to ‘Hell Valley’ in English.
While Hell Valley presents a harsh environment for humans, covered in snow for almost one-third of the year, it is a paradise for the monkeys.
Date: Saturday, November 25th 2023 Location: Hokusha, Togakushi, Nagano, Japan Activity: Visiting all five Shinto shrines and enjoying delicious local cuisine Duration: Around 4-5 hours
The Five Shinto Shrines of Togakushi
Japan is quite an old country, and there are many places that have Shinwa, stories of Japan’s ancient legends, which is Shinto religion. One such place is the Togakushi region in the forested highland plateau.
Togakushi Shrines （戸隠神社, Togakushi Jinja) are a group of Shinto shrines located in the Togakushi mountain range in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The Shrines consist of five shrines of natural beauty called Togakushi Shrines.
Hokosha Shrine (Lower level) 宝光社
Hinomikosha Shrine (火之御子社）
Chusha Shrine (中社）
Kuzuryusha Shrine and Okusha Shrine （九頭龍社，奥社）
Shinto Shrines
Shinto shrines are integral to the unique indigenous religion of Japan known as Shintoism. In this belief system, gods, or kami（神）, are found in nature—whether in animals, plants, mountains, rivers, or ancient natural phenomena. Unlike Buddhism or Christianity, Shinto does not adhere to the concept of an absolute god. Instead, the essence of Shinto is embedded in the myriad kami dwelling in various aspects of the natural world. Japanese individuals often turn to these sacred shrines as places of worship, symbolizing a reverence for the divine presence in all things.
Approximately 3.5 hours to complete
It would take a good 3 hours if you start at ①the Hokosha Shrine and up to ⑤the Kuzuryusha Shrine and ④the Okusha Shrine through other ②③shrines. Connecting hiking routes of the five-shrine is easy and well-maintained, but some parts of the route have long steep rock stairs.
The story of the Amano-Iwado, or Heaven’s Rock Door
In this Japanese mythology, there’s a story about the sun goddess Amaterasu and her troublemaking brother, Susanoo. Susanoo caused all sorts of problems, including killing one of Amaterasu’s attendants. Fed up with his antics, Amaterasu retreated into a cave called Amano-Iwato and closed its rock door. With her gone, the world was plunged into total darkness.
The other gods weren’t thrilled with this situation since a world without the sun was a pretty grim place. So, they brainstormed a plan to get Amaterasu out of the cave. The god of wisdom suggested throwing a big party outside the cave. Uzume, the goddess of the arts, danced to get the sun goddess’s attention, while the other gods laughed and cheered merrily.
All the noise and commotion piqued Amaterasu’s curiosity, prompting her to crack the cave’s rock door open a bit to see what was happening. Seizing the opportunity, the god of strength grabbed the rock door and hurled it into the sky with all their might, thus restoring light to the world, and it was daytime once more. The rock door that was thrown became what we now know as the Togakushi mountain range.
T0gakushi Mountain Range
Lower Shrine, Hokosha Shrine: This is the first shrine you encounter when ascending the mountain. It is dedicated to the deity of food and agriculture.
Middle Shrine, Chusha Shrine: It is dedicated to the deity of the warrior spirit, particularly the spirit of the legendary ninja. The path to this shrine is lined with tall cedar trees and provides a powerful energy.
Upper Shrine, Okusha Shrine: It is dedicated to the deity of the mountain. The trail to reach this shrine can be challenging, with steep staircases and a rugged path, but it offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Shintoism
Shintoism and Shinto shrines in Japan are an indigenous religion of Japan that involves the worship of Kami, which can be understood as divine spirits or gods. These Kami are believed to exist in various natural elements, such as animals, plants, mountains rivers, and other natural phenomena.
For instance, at age 400 years Ork tree at the Chusha Shrain is enshrined as symbolizing the divine spirit of the Kami. People pray for an enriched harvest, or not to happen any natural disasters to the tree.
