With a 1400 year history, Zenkoji is the heart and soul of Nagano city, a National Treasure and one of the most beloved temples in Japan.
Walk in darkness on a path to this “secret Buddha” and (maybe) find enlightenment.
Biwa Island sits just out of reach of Lake Nojiri’s western shoreline. Scanning the landscape, this tree-topped mound would fade into the background if not for the striking red torii gate demarking its entrance. The gate identifies Biwa Island (also known as Bentenjima) as sacred Shinto ground. And hiding on this ground, amid the dense crop of trees, is the almost 1,300-year-old Uga Shrine.
Visiting Togakushi Shrine on the Togakushi Kodo is a great way to get up close and personal with Japanese mythology, nature and culture.
