Trip Ideas
Model Soba Making and Hiking Course (spring or autumn)
Start out in the morning by making your own soba at the Tonkururin Restaurant and Soba Museum, and in the afternoon, hike along the ancient Pilgrimage route in Togakushi, which includes several scenic highlights.
Nagano Station
Once you arrive at Nagano station, take bus number: 70 headed to Togakushi Campsite.
Get off at the Soba Museum (Tonkururin) bus stop.
The bus ride takes approximately 54 minutes, so we recommend taking the bus that departs Nagano Station at 8:30 a.m. and arrives at the Soba Museum at 9:24 a.m.
Address : 1355-5 Suehirocho, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken 380-0825 Japan
Bus timetable : Click here
55 minutes
Tonkururin
Make your own soba at the Tonkururin restaurant under the guidance of experienced staff. Enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch and visit the attached museum to learn more about soba. The entire soba-making experience takes about 90 minutes, then allow another 90 minutes for lunch and the museum.
For 2 people/3,500 yen (includes soba making and lunch)
For 4 people/7,000 yen (includes soba making and lunch)
Reservation required. Please reserve by e-mail at englishinfo@togakushi-21.jp
English speaking staff available.
Address : 3018 Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken 381-4101 Japan
Tel : 026-254-3773
0 minutes
Yunomine Yuhitenboen
Yunomine Yuhitenboen observation point is situated just above the Tonkururin Restaurant. The view embraces three mountain ranges: Togakushi, Arakura and Hakuba. The natural scenery is particularly beautiful at sunset.
The hike itself from Tonkururin to the Chusha Shrine is about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the weather and your physical condition.
The walk is of medium-level difficulty level, but make sure to bring rain gear and adequate shoes for hiking.
30 minutes
Jizoudo
About half way to the Chusha Shrine, you will pass Jizoudo, a small temple located at
the entrance of the Hokosha grounds. It houses remarkable Buddhist statues as well as a statue of Gakumon Gyoja, the disciple of Shugendo who made Togakushi famous as a spot for mountain worship, and Juouzo statues who are the ten judges waiting for us at death in Buddhism.
Address : Hokosha 1681-1, Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken, 381-4101, Japan
10 minutes
Hokosha Shrine
Stopping at Hokosha Shrine is an absolute must. It was built at the end of the Edo period, and it is the oldest of the five shrines of Togakushi. In the main building you can admire beautiful wooden sculptures such as the Oyako Ryu (parent and child dragons) and the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. The deity of this shrine is worshipped as a patron of the arts, sewing, easy delivery in birth, family serenity, warding off evil and is believed to be a guardian of women and children.
Address : 2110, Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken, 381-4101, Japan
45 minutes
Chusha Shrine
This shrine is closely related to the legend of Amano Iwato. The light deity Amaterasu or the "Sun Goddess" was driven into a cave by her brother, which then deprived the world of light and resulted in chaos. In order to lure Amaterasu out of the cave, all the deities held a festival with singing and dancing, and successfully convinced Amaterasu to open the cave. According to legend, the stone door from the cave then fell to earth becoming Mt. Togakushi. Omoikane-no-Mikoto who came up with the plan to lure Amaterasu out of the cave is enshrined here as the deity of wisdom.
Address : Chusha 3506 Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken 381-4101 Japan
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Chusha Bus stop
Chusha Bus stop departure time to Nagano station.
Note: If you need a guide with an English interpreter, please contact us via e-mail. There are bears in this area, so we advise traveling in a group with a bell attached to your backpack.
Disclaimer: The Togakushi Tourism Association refuses all responsibility for accidents occurring when unaccompanied by a guide.