Travel Guide Togakushi

Togakushi is located in a mountainous region that has been one of the favourite destinations for climbers and skiers for some years. It is also the place of the legend of Amaterasu, goddess of the Sun, who would have used a rock to lock itself in a cave hidden in this mountain. The three sanctuaries of Togakushi are dedicated to Ame no Omoi Kane no Mikoto, goddess who performed a funny dance so that Amaratesu fasse the rock on the side to take a look at it. One of the Force's gods would have seized the rock and launched it from Kyūshū on the Montagne mountain (800 km distance). Togakushi was also an important centre of the shūgendō, a syncretic cult whose yamabushi (monks living in the mountains) taught the doctrine. From the Meiji era, this syncretic cult disappeared gradually.