A Long Established Shrine In A Mountain Related To Japanese Myth

It's still during summer vacation season in Japan, so visiting some other region far from Tokyo area would be nice. Let's take a look at a mountainous area! 

Togakushi Shrine in Nagano prefecture is one of the popular Japanese Shinto shrines among tourist. Since the shrine is located in a mountain, visiting there includes a hiking then people can enjoy great nature in addition to the historical buildings. 

Nobody knows the exact established year of Togakushi Shrine but it has a long history. For sure this shrine was already well known after the 10th century moreover many people think the history can be gone back more because it seems like there is a connection between this shrine and Japanese oldest mythology. In fact some record says it was established in B.C. 

The shrine is on the foot of Mt. Togakushi (1904 m which means 6247 feet), and the name “Togakushi” means “Hiding The Door”. What door? Actually there is an episode in Japanese mythology, and it says there was a big incident happened long time ago. 

Once, the Goddess of Sun hid herself in a cave and shut the entrance of the cave by a huge rock. The world was covered by darkness and everybody had troubles but she didn't want to come out. All gods and goddesses had a meeting and thought out a plan to solve it. Then one of the Goddesses who is good at dance started to show a funny dance and gods and goddesses got together as if there was a special party going on. No sooner had the Goddess of Sun peeked outside than one of the gods who had Herculean strength grabbed the huge rock-door and threw it into the sky. Thus the world took the sunlight back.

Japanese mythology doesn't mention about afterward in detail but it has been said that the thrown door landed in the place which is now called Nagano prefecture and became a mountain named Mt. Togakushi. To fit the legend, the inner shrine building shown in the photo slide-show actually worships the god with Herculean strength.

Of course it is just a legendary episode without any proof, but on the way to visit the inner shrine building there is a long approach with enormous Japanese cedar trees and they look very dignified and mysterious. Some of the trees even have a sacred rope of Japanese Shinto around them, which means old-days people were also struck with awe and worshiped them as sacred trees. It seems that the place would fit very well for a scene of Japanese myth.

Hope you can enjoy the mythical atmosphere from my photos!