Togakushi-Omine Recreation Forest：Forestry Agency

Kagami-Ike Pond and Mt. Togakushi
Snow-covering Togakushi forest
Kagami-Ike Pond
Ominesan Monomi-iwa Rock
Togakushi Mountain Ranges from Mt. Iizuna
Snowshoeing
Togakushi Mountain Ranges in Winter

Togakushi-Omine Recreation Forest

2623.60ha

Elevation [Togakushi](Lowest)1,200m (Overall)1,227m (Highest)1,827m*
[Omine](Lowest)500m (Overall)833m (Highest)828m
Mount Togakushi 1,904m

Admire the sunlight filtering through the leaves, the songs of small birds,
and an abundance of flowers in a forest that soothes the soul.

Togakushi ― overflowing with mystical energy

Admire the sunlight filtering through the leaves, the songs of small birds, and an abundance of flowers in a forest that soothes the soul.

Togakushi ― overflowing with mystical energy

Newest information
Area
Activities
Overview
Latest Information
Usage Guide
Facility
Map
Address
Access
(Distances and times are
provided as a guide only)
Management office
contact details
Official Tourist Information
Recreation Forest
Management Committee
Supporters
Other

Newest information: CHECK
Please visit official tourism websites for the latest updates and information.

Area: Chubu

Activities: Flower-viewing Autumn leaf viewing Birdwatching Picnics (lawn area/park) Areas for paddling/fishing (pond/lake/river) Forest Botanical Garden（Free of charge） Guided tours (No foreign languages spoken) Skiing (Ski resort)(19 trails; total trail length: 17,000 m Longest trail length: 3,000 m) Snow hiking (Hiking on the snow using snowshoes or cross country skis)

Overview

Geographical/topographical features: Located about an hour's drive from central Nagano City, this area offers precipitous mountain scenery, while its main tourist attractions are located amid the gentle foothills of the Togakushi Range.
Historical/cultural features: The first place of worship on Mount Togakushi is said to have been founded about 1,200 years ago by En no Gyoja, who is renowned as the founder of Shugendo, a Japanese religion encompassing mountain worship. The approach to the Upper Shrine from the wooden gate with a thatched roof (Zuishinmon) at the entrance to Togakushi Shrine is lined with cedars said to have been planted by ascetic monks back in those days, providing visitors with a sense of its long, weighty history.
In FY2016, Togakushi's Middle Shrine and Hoko-sha (lower shrine) were together designated by the national government as an important preservation district for groups of historic buildings. As such, one could describe it as an area where history is being carefully preserved and utilized amid the onward march of modern life.
Climate, flora and fauna: The area enjoys a cool climate in summer, while around 2 m of snow coverage accumulates in winter.
In particular, in June or thereabouts each year, Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden ― located beside the approach to Togakushi's Upper Shrine ― offers the chance to see a spectacular display of mizubasho, Asian skunk cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcensis), which have flowers and leaves much bigger than those found in other areas. Visitors can enjoy the diverse natural scenery, which ranges from broad-leaved forests with an array of different leaves to coniferous forests of tall trees such as momi, fir (Abies firma); karamatsu, Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi); and sugi, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). Precisely because of the diversity of this environment, visitors can spot a variety of wild birds throughout the year.
Attractions: Thanks to the popularity of the hike taking in the five shrines of Togakushi Shrine ― a noted power spot, or area believed to emit a mystical positive energy ― and also the fame of Togakushi soba, celebrated as one of Japan’s top three kinds of soba noodles, the Togakushi area attracts a lively throng of both Japanese and foreign tourists alike. Located near the five shrines, the Ninja Trick Mansion and other facilities showcasing the Togakushi School of ninja martial arts also hold great appeal for visitors as places offering the chance to try the ninja experience.
At the entrance to the Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden, which is surrounded by these attractions, visitors will find the Mori-no-Manabiya forest museum, which offers the chance to learn about the nature of Togakushi via dioramas and videos. From spring through autumn, visitors ― including those in wheelchairs or baby buggies ― can enjoy the sounds of babbling streams and birdsong as they take a turn around the garden, thanks to its partially accessible boardwalks. The adjacent campsite is filled with families enjoying life in the great outdoors.
Winter covers the garden in almost 2 m of snow, but visitors are welcome to put on snowshoes or cross country skis to go exploring or take part in one of the popular snow hiking events providing an opportunity to look for animal tracks, signs of feeding, or buds on the trees as they await the coming of spring. Go further on and your eyes will be met with a particularly stunning sight: the frozen surface of Kagami-ike Pond against the backdrop of the Togakushi Range’s towering peaks in their midwinter glory.
Other: The Omine district was home to Omine Castle (currently closed), located on the rear approach to Zenkoji Temple. On the side of the mountain is Kenshin Monomi-iwa, the rock where Echigo Province ruler Uesugi Kenshin is said to have stood to watch the Battle of Kawanakajima in the 16th century.

Latest Information

Warnings: ・Bears witnessed between May and October.
Please ensure that you carry a bell, radio, or other item that makes a noise when walking or mountain climbing in this area.

Usage Guide

Entrance fee: None
Opening seasons and hours: Open all year
Accommodation options: Japanese inns and temple lodgings available

Facility: Toilets and drinking fountains Toilet (accessible) Walking trail Parking lot Vending machine Shop Restaurant Campsite and/or cabins Specimen forest/Botanic garden/Museum (No foreign languages spoken) Accommodation facilities (Hotels / Japanese inns)

Map: pdf

Address: Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano Prefecture / Mount Omine, Nagano-shi, Nagano Prefecture

Access (Distances and times are provided as a guide only)

By public transport

・Nagano Station to Togakushi Local bus / taxi via Bird Line: 1 hour)
・Nagano Station to Ominesan Taxi: 30 minutes
* Please note that there are no bus routes serving Ominesan

By car

[Togakushi District]
・Joshinetsu Expressway Nagano IC → Pref. Route 35 → Route 117 → Togakushi Bird Line → Pref. Route 36 → Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden (28 km / 1 hour)
[Omine District]
・Joshinetsu Expressway Nagano IC → Pref. Route 35 → Route 117 → Pref. Route 399 → Route 406 → Ominesan (13 km / 40 minutes)

(1) Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden parking lot: Space for approximately 60 vehicles (free of charge) Togakushi Middle Shrine parking lot: Space for approximately 100 vehicles (free of charge)
(2) Togakushi Upper Shrine parking lot: Space for approximately 100 vehicles Charges apply: Standard-sized cars ¥600, large vehicles ¥2,200 (per use; no time limit)
(3) A temporary parking lot is available at Togakushi Ski Resort during the following periods: consecutive public holidays in early May; August 11–15; September 16–18; and October 7–9, 14–15, 21–22, and 28–29 A special shuttle bus
service operates from the ski resort parking lot
Space for approximately 1,500 vehicles
* Shuttle bus charges: Adults ¥500, children ¥250 Bus users receive a gift certificate valid for use in the Togakushi area Information provided by the Togakushi Tourism Association

Nearby tourist facilities

・Togakushi Shrine
・Mount Togakushi
・Togakushi Ski Resort
・Togakushi Campsite
・Togakushi Kids’ Ninja Village
・Togakushi Farm
・Kagami-ike Pond
・Togakushi soba noodle restaurants

Google Map

Management office contact details: Hokushin District Forest Office, Chubu Regional Forest Office, Forestry Agency
TEL : 0269-62-4141
https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/chubu/hokusin/

Official Tourist Information: Togakushi Tourism Association [External link]

http://www.togakushi-21.jp/

Recreation Forest Management Committee: Committee name and contact details: Togakushi Omine Recreation Forest Protection and Management Committee
TEL：026-254-2324

Supporters: ー

Other: ー

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