Togakushi Shrine consists of five shrines located at the foot of Mt.
The five shrines are Okusha, Naka-sha, Hogo-sha, Kutouryu-sha, and Hinomiko-sha, and visitors can tour the five shrines along the Togakushi Ancient Trail.
According to legend, Kutouryuu no Mikami, the local deity of the area, welcomed Amaterikio-no-Mikoto to the shrine.
Sacred Sites
Since the Heian period (794-1185), Togakushiyama Kanshuin Kensho-ji Temple has been known throughout Japan as a sacred site for the mixing of Shinto and Buddhist teachings with Tendai Esoteric Buddhism and Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.
As a sacred site for mountain ascetics along with Hieizan (Enryakuji Temple) and Koyasan (Kongobuji Temple), Togakushi-san was known as “Sanzenbo Sanzan” (three mountains of 3,000 monks’ quarters), attracting many ascetic practitioners.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), the area was heavily protected by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the mountain was developed as a town in front of the shrine.
Cedar trees were planted along the approach to the inner shrine, and Togakushi was widely worshipped by the general public as a god of agriculture and water.
In the Meiji era (1868-1912), Togakushi became subject to the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism, the temple was detached, the priests were returned to the priesthood, and the shrine was renamed Togakushi Shrine, where it remains today.
There are still many lodgings in the surrounding area.
Chusha Shrine:
It is written that in 1087, the Bessho of the time received a dream that “this mountain should be three temples,” and founded Naka-in Temple (present-day Naka-sha) on this site located between Oku-in Temple (present-day Okusha) and Hogo-in Temple (present-day Hogo-sha).
The current deity is Ameyagokoro Omomokane-no-Mikoto, who is said to have invented Iwato Kagura (Shinto music and dance) when Amaterasu hid in Ama-no-Iwato, and to have been the inspiration for the opening of Iwato. He is also said to be the god of wisdom.
The three 900-year-old cedars around the shrine are designated as natural monuments.
Kuzuryusha Shrine:
Kuzuryu Shrine is dedicated to the deity Kutouryuu.
The shrine is located just below Okusha Shrine and is considered to be a precinct shrine, but it is older than Okusha Shrine and the date of its founding is not clear. It is worshipped as a landowner deity.
Togakushi is dotted with caves known as the “33 Caves of Togakushi,” and this is one of the “Dragon Caves.
A corridor runs from the main shrine to the upper right side of the main shrine, above the rock formation, which is the “Ryukutsu” (dragon cave).