[2025 Azumino Attraction] Travel Guide for Hotaka Shrine (Updated Jul)

Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture. There are lots of flowers at the chozuya, a great spot for Instagram. There are also chickens, making this a shrine that is a power spot. Address Hodaka Shrine, 6079 Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, 399-8303 #summertrip #forestbathing #summertrip

If you are tired of your busy schedule, you should visit Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture. This shrine is not just a tourist spot, but is a place where the mountains and myths of Shinshu live on, and it has a depth that will impress even experienced travelers. Here are five reasons why you should visit Hotaka Shrine. ⸻ ⛩️Five reasons why you should visit Hotaka Shrine ⸻ ①【A sacred place for mountain worship that enshrines the god of the Japanese Alps】 Hotaka Shrine is an ancient shrine that enshrines Hotakaminomikoto, the guardian deity of the Japanese Alps. It is the center of mountain worship. 📎Trivia: The inner shrine is located at an altitude of 3,180m in Kamikochi, Mount Hotaka, making it one of the highest shrines in Japan! ⸻ ②【Also famous as the god of navigation】 Why the mountain god? You may think so, but in fact, Hotakaminokami is the god of the "Umi-jin people." He is also worshipped as the guardian deity of safe sea travel and travel. 📎**Trivia: A magnificent Mifune (sacred boat)** used in the Mifune Festival is on display in the precincts! ⸻ ③[He is deeply revered by locals as a "god of protection from misfortune"] It is said to have strong benefits in Nagano Prefecture, and many people visit the shrine at turning points in their lives. He is especially famous for praying for safe childbirth and protection from misfortune. 📎Trivia: The main hall is a wooden structure that has remained since the Edo period, and is beautiful in both tranquility and solemnity. ⸻ ④[Visiting the Okumiya Shrine, which connects you to the great nature of Kamikochi] If you have time, be sure to visit the Okumiya Shrine in Kamikochi. The experience of praying in the mirror-like lake and mysterious forest is like going to another world. 📎Trivia: The Okumiya Shrine is located on Myojin Pond, and every October a ritual is held in which a god descends by boat. ⸻ ⑤【Beautiful spring water and mysterious power spot】 The spring water "Goshinsui" in the shrine grounds is known locally as "special water". Just touching the cool, clear water is a healing sensation. 📎**Trivia:** This spring water is meltwater from the Northern Alps. It is said that drinking it will "purify your heart". ⸻ 🏞️Summary Hotaka Shrine is a "sacred place where you can take a deep breath" where nature, faith, and history quietly blend together. Why not take a trip to this place watched over by the mountain god to realign your heart? "Hotaka Shrine" - a hidden gem in Nagano that only those in the know know about. #Nagano #HotakaShrine #DomesticTravel

The moment you get off the train and straddle your bike, the sound of the wind, the scent of the mountains, and the sparkling water spread throughout your body. Cycling around Hotaka Station in Nagano Prefecture is neither sightseeing nor exercise, but a time to “get yourself in order.” It’s nostalgic, yet new—here are five reasons why such a trip is so appealing. ⸻ ✅Five reasons to cycle around Hotaka Station ⸻ ① [An extraordinary experience of cycling while looking at the Northern Alps] The landscape of the countryside and mountain ranges is like a painting. The clear air and wide sky will blow away your mental fatigue. 📎**Trivia:** The ridges of the Northern Alps change color in spring and autumn, creating a “seasonal gradation.” On a clear day, you can even see Mount Yari. ⸻ ②【A pleasant 15-minute ride to the Daio Wasabi Farm】 A 15-minute cycle ride from Hotaka Station will take you to the Daio Wasabi Farm, the largest in Japan. The riverside road on the way is also refreshing! 📎**Trivia:** The water flowing through the wasabi fields is 13°C all year round. This coldness brings out the flavor of the wasabi to the fullest. ⸻ ③【Spring water spots in Azumino, the "town of water" along the way】 The scattered spring water points and babbling streams are pleasant, and the water supply is also a blessing from nature. You'll be amazed at how clear the water is. 📎**Trivia:** Azumino's spring water is so pure that it was selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Famous Waters." We recommend bringing a bottle! ⸻ ④ [Hidden old-style cafes and bakeries] Small cafes and bakeries that blend into the local community are scattered here and there, a little different from tourist spots. It's also attractive to encounter things that are not on the map. 📎**Trivia:** Many of the cafes that have been renovated from old houses have excellent menus using locally grown buckwheat flour and vegetables. ⸻ ⑤ [You can easily rent bicycles at the station] There are plenty of bicycle rentals in front of Hotaka Station, so you can start easily without making a reservation. You can also choose an e-bike, so it's easy to ride up the slopes. 📎**Trivia:** At the "Tourist Information Center" at the station, you can get recommendations on recommended routes that only locals know! ⸻ 🚴♀️Summary Cycling in Hotaka is not just a tourist route. There is a tranquility that makes you blend into the scenery, and a slow time that relaxes your mind. It's too far to walk, but too fast to drive. That's why there are views that can only be seen at the speed of a bicycle. Why not take a deep breath and feel the breeze of Hotaka? #Nagano #DomesticTravel #Cycling

Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃 A shrine located right next to Hotaka Station. The deity enshrined is Hotakamino-Mikoto, the ancestor of the sea gods. The Azumi tribe are their descendants and are known as the prosperous gods who govern maritime transport in Kitakyushu. The shrine has an Okumiya and a Minemiya, with the Okumiya enshrined in Kamikochi at the foot of the Hotaka mountain range and the Minemiya enshrined on Okuhotaka-dake, the main peak of the Northern Alps. For this reason, it is revered as the guardian deity of the Japanese Alps, traffic safety, and industrial safety. The shrine is also famous for the "Ofune Festival," which shows proof that the people were a seafaring people. The floats are shaped like boats, and these boats are paraded through the town. You can also see things related to boats within the shrine grounds. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Hotaka Shrine ꕥAddress: 6079 Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture ꕥAccess: 🚉 Hotaka Station → 7 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #Sakura2024 #Azumino City #Shrine tour #Shrines and temples #Nagano sightseeing

🏠Hotaka Shrine 📍 6079 Hotaka, Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, 399-8303 🚶 7 minutes walk from Hotaka Station 💰 500 yen to enter the inner shrine Reservation: Not required Time required: 20 minutes 📷 ok ---------------------------------------------------- Kamikochi in Nagano is mysterious...! The water is crystal clear, and it reminded me of nature like Princess Mononoke from Ghibli. By the way, the spot in the cover picture is a photogenic spot where a lot of people line up. You only have time to take a quick photo, so it's recommended that you decide on the angle while you're waiting in line. #retrotownscape #retroarchitecture #architecture #emo #retro #historicalsites #triptotouristculture #shrine #domestictravel #trip_outdoor #sightseeinginNagano #triptoNagano