Hello, fellow travel lovers!
Today, I’ll be sharing my experience of the Togakushi Five-Shrine Pilgrimage.
- 1．The Five-Shrine Pilgrimage Begins! Starting Early from the First Torii Gate Ruins
- 2. Hokosha Shrine: Climbing 270 Stone Steps for the Visit
- 3. To Hinomiko Shrine: Walking the Sacred Path for the Visit!
- 4. Chusha Shrine Visit: I thought I found the Three Cedars... or did I?
- 5. Through the Zuishinmon Gate to Kuzuryu Shrine! Energy Recharge and the Challenging Path...
- 6. Energy Recharge at Kuzuryu Shrine and Okusha Shrine
- 7. The Sense of Accomplishment from the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage! Special Bookmark and Omikuji
- 8. Leaving the Path and Saving the Sunset at Kagami Pond for Next Time...
- Summary & Recommended Points!
1．The Five-Shrine Pilgrimage Begins! Starting Early from the First Torii Gate Ruins
At 10:30 AM, we arrived at the torii gate ruins! Leaving at 5:30 AM was worth the effort!
This is truly the “beginning of the beginning” of the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage, the starting point of the Togakushi Old Path.
Seeing the remnants of the large torii gate, my sense of adventure for the journey instantly heightened.
↓ 🚙 2min（1.4㎞）
Ready to start the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage! ...or so I’d like to say, but first, we stopped for a bite at Okubo's Teahouse.
We made sure to recharge our energy here!
You can find more details in this blog post.
↓ 🚙 11min（5.8㎞）
2. Hokosha Shrine: Climbing 270 Stone Steps for the Visit
Now, the first destination of the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage is Hokosha Shrine. And waiting for us here was... a sudden climb of 270 stone steps!
「いよいよ試練の始まりか…」と思いながら、最初の鳥居をくぐると
And there, more steps awaited!
Even after climbing further, the stairs just kept going!
With one last burst of energy, we finally made it to the top.
Feeling like this was the true initiation of the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage... we somehow managed to complete the visit!
My energy was definitely drained, but I felt incredibly refreshed.
The real Five-Shrine Pilgrimage starts here!
3. To Hinomiko Shrine: Walking the Sacred Path for the Visit!
After leaving Hokosha Shrine, the next destination is Hinomiko Shrine.
From here, we finally walk the "Sacred Path" to make our way to the shrine.
As we walked through the quiet nature, a sacred atmosphere filled the air, making me instinctively straighten my posture.
Along the way, we spotted some bright red berries!
After looking it up, we found out it was a highly poisonous plant called mamushigusa.
It made me realize that amidst the beauty of nature, there’s also a hint of danger lurking...
Along the way, we came across the Fushiogami-sho (worship spot).
In the past, people who couldn't make it to the Okusha Shrine would worship Togakushi Mountain and the Okusha from this spot.
You can really feel the history here.
What on earth is this?! Along the way, we found the "Aura Overflowing Cedar"!
The branches of this tree were unusually unique, almost as if it was radiating some kind of mystical power.
It didn’t feel like just any ordinary tree; I could sense a mysterious energy from it.
Bear bell... let's give it a ring. Nice sound♪
And then, up ahead, appeared a sign that read, "Beware of Bears!"
"Wait, do bears really show up here!?" I thought, a little freaked out, but then realized, this is their territory after all (haha).
After walking the sacred path for about 15 minutes, we finally arrived at Hinomiko Shrine!
This place exudes a deep sense of history, and I couldn't help but offer my prayers with a renewed feeling.
And over to the left... you can see the famous Couple Cedars!
Ta-da! They’re huge!
These trees, which have stood together for many years, are said to be symbols of marital harmony and strong relationships.
It was a place wrapped in the power and mystery of nature.
Which way will you choose?
We decided to head back to Hokosha Shrine's parking lot, but now we had to choose—take the same path we came on or walk along the road.
We chose the road route.
Thinking, "This should get us back quicker!" we set off with high hopes... but the heat was intense! The sun was blazing, and the road felt way longer than expected! In the end, we ended up walking in the scorching sun for 20 minutes💦. It was pretty tough (haha).
Looking back, we realized that taking the natural path might have been the better choice (haha).
↓ 🚶 20min
↓ 🚙 7min（2.7㎞）
4. Chusha Shrine Visit: I thought I found the Three Cedars... or did I?
Upon arriving at Chusha Shrine, we quickly completed our visit and got the shrine stamp.
Then, we spotted a cedar tree split into three trunks! "This must be the Three Cedars!" we said, and the three of us, being good friends, all touched it together.
However... it turns out, this wasn’t the real Three Cedars after all (haha).
The actual Three Cedars are made up of this tree and two others located in separate spots.
We totally made a silly mistake!
Regaining our composure, we set off on foot towards our next destination: Okusha Shrine!
We planned to cover the 1.6 km distance in about 30 minutes.
Smooth sailing! We’re making steady progress.
In the past, Togakushi was off-limits to women—meaning it was a sacred area where women were not allowed.
It was seriously believed that 'if women entered, the sacred grounds would be tainted and the gods would be angered.'
But in today's world, it might be scarier to make women angry! (haha)
...But did we make a wrong turn? We found ourselves walking on a completely deserted path.
Well, in the end, it turned out okay since we got to fully enjoy the Togakushi Old Path, but honestly, taking the car might have been a better idea—especially as I rubbed my sore legs later on (haha).
Along the way, we were drenched in sweat, got a bit lost, and ended up walking more than planned—it was a tougher journey than expected💦.
↓ 🚶 40 min
5. Through the Zuishinmon Gate to Kuzuryu Shrine! Energy Recharge and the Challenging Path...
Despite getting a bit lost, we somehow made it to the entrance of Okusha Shrine! From here, a 40-minute walk awaits us.
Before entering the path to Okusha Shrine, we needed to recharge our energy first!
What we had here was soft serve ice cream.
They offered four tempting flavors: vanilla, Shine Muscat, apple, and soba.
We were spoiled for choice, but surprisingly, all three of us went with... apple!
We just couldn’t resist the temptation of apple (haha).
The balance of tartness and sweetness was perfect, and it paired beautifully with the waffle cone. We were fully recharged and ready to head towards the path.
After walking for 20 minutes, we finally reached the halfway point, where Zuishinmon Gate came into view.
There was something oddly adorable about the Zuishinmon Gate, with its roof covered in wild grass (haha).
As soon as we passed through the gate, the atmosphere changed completely. We were now entering truly sacred territory.
Beyond that, we were greeted by a breathtaking row of towering cedar trees, and I couldn't help but gasp in awe.
As the path grew steeper and more challenging, the chatter naturally died down, and soon, everyone was walking in silence... (haha).
6. Energy Recharge at Kuzuryu Shrine and Okusha Shrine
We climbed the final steps and arrived at Kuzuryu Shrine!
Before reaching Kuzuryu Shrine, we paused for a moment by the waterfall to catch our breath.
We unexpectedly discovered a mound of offerings! It looked like a little gold mine (haha). I wonder why everyone feels compelled to toss coins into the water? It's a mystery.
In any case, we made sure to properly pay our respects at Kuzuryu Shrine.
Right next door is Okusha Shrine. A short flight of stairs, and we arrived in no time.
In the past, Okusha Shrine was off-limits to women, but now it feels like the gods are saying, "We want more ladies to come!" (haha).
Times have certainly changed!
7. The Sense of Accomplishment from the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage! Special Bookmark and Omikuji
Finally, we got our shrine stamp and omikuji at the shrine office. And guess what? If you collect all the shrine stamps from the five shrines, you receive a special and beautiful bookmark! So, congratulations, my friend, on this achievement!
When you tell them your age in the traditional way, you can hear the sound of prayers coming from the back, and you'll receive a blessed omikuji.
And the result was... good luck!
But this wasn’t just any good luck; it was filled with nothing but positive messages, making it an incredibly high-value omikuji!
8. Leaving the Path and Saving the Sunset at Kagami Pond for Next Time...
On the way back, we walked for about 35 minutes to return to the entrance of Okusha Shrine, and from there, we took a bus to the parking lot at Chusha Shrine.
We arrived just 5 minutes before the bus, which only runs once an hour!
Could it be that the blessings from our visit are already paying off? (haha)
Now, we had planned to watch the sunset at Kagami Pond, but we were met with a double whammy of "No Vehicle Entry" signs and fatigue, leading us to abandon our plans easily...
Honestly, the only thing on my mind right now is, "I just want to soak in a hot spring!" (haha)
Today's accommodation is right here! The hot springs are waiting for us.
↓ ↓ ↓
Summary & Recommended Points!
The Togakushi Five-Shrine Pilgrimage was a wonderful experience that allowed us to feel the power of history and nature!
Each of the five shrines has its own unique charm, and the majestic cedar trees, waterfalls, and the atmosphere of the ancient paths truly evoke a sense of the sacred.
While it is a physically demanding course, the sense of accomplishment after visiting all five shrines is truly exceptional.
Recommended Points:
- Waking up early is key! The Five-Shrine Pilgrimage requires stamina, so it's best to start early and take your time. Visiting the shrines while enjoying the crisp morning air is a truly special experience.
- The autumn foliage season is the best! Autumn is a beautiful season for foliage, allowing you to feel the power of nature even more. It's perfect for capturing stunning photos!
- Recharge with Apple Soft Serve! The apple soft serve available near the entrance of Okusha Shrine is absolutely delicious! It's the perfect way to recharge your energy for the visit.
- Consider driving as an option. Since there's a lot of walking that can be tiring, it's recommended to use a car or bus for transportation. The path to Okusha Shrine, in particular, might be a bit challenging for those who aren’t confident in their stamina.
- Complete your shrine stamps to receive a special bookmark! If you're going on the Five-Shrine Pilgrimage, make sure to collect the shrine stamps. Collecting all of them will earn you a special bookmark!
The "Togakushi Five-Shrine Pilgrimage" can be a bit physically demanding, but it’s a journey that refreshes both the mind and body even more. Be sure to add it to your next travel plans!
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip! – TabiJun
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
