🛕 Temples and Shrines in Nagano

Nagano is home to many beautiful temples and shrines that reflect the deep spiritual traditions of Japan. From historic Buddhist temples in the city to peaceful Shinto shrines hidden in the forests and mountains, each site offers a unique experience. Visitors can connect with nature, explore Japanese history, and enjoy quiet moments of reflection. This list includes some of the most memorable spiritual places to visit in Nagano for those seeking culture, peace, and meaning.

📝 Personal Note

This page is dedicated to the temples and shrines I’ve visited across Nagano — places where natural beauty and spiritual atmosphere come together. Many are nestled in forests, near mountains, or by lakes, offering not just history and culture, but a peaceful connection to nature.

During these visits, I’ve also been collecting gōshuin — the hand-drawn seals and calligraphy offered at each temple or shrine. These small works of art are more than souvenirs; they’re a way of marking presence, intention, and quiet appreciation.

I hope this list inspires a calm and meaningful path through Nagano, guided by spirit, scenery, and silence.

Long strip of paper with Japanese calligraphy and stamps, laying on a wooden floor.

🛕 Temples and Shrines in Nagano – My Experience

Traditional Japanese temple with curved wooden roof, lanterns, and well-maintained garden with bushes and trees.

🛕 Zenkoji Temple
（善光寺）

One of the most important Buddhist temples in Japan. Known for its welcoming spirit, morning rituals, and pitch-dark underground passage.

A traditional Japanese temple gate surrounded by tall trees in a forest, with two visitors walking through the entrance.

🛕 Togakushi Shrine
（戸隠神社）

A sacred Shinto complex of five shrines hidden in deep mountain forest. Famous for its ancient cedar trees and mythical energy.

A Japanese shrine surrounded by tall trees with traditional statues and lanterns at the entrance.

🛕 Uchikubijima Shrine（内堀島神社）

A small island shrine in the middle of Lake Nojiri. Quiet, scenic, and perfect for a peaceful boat trip and reflection.

A traditional Japanese shrine with a tiled roof, wooden structure, and decorative elements, surrounded by trees.

🛕 Sanada Shrine
（真田神社）

Built to honor the legendary Sanada samurai clan. Located inside the historical Ueda Castle grounds.

Traditional Japanese wooden shrine building with a gravel pathway in front, and a large stone stonework in the foreground to the right.

🛕 Kitamuki Kannon（北向観音）

A rare north-facing Kannon temple, believed to balance spiritual energy with Zenkoji Temple.

A traditional Japanese building on a hillside surrounded by lush green trees and rocky cliffs, with a blue sky and some clouds overhead.

🛕 Shakuson-ji / Nunobuki Kannon

A temple built dramatically into a cliffside, offering stunning views and spiritual legend of the healing Kannon.

A traditional Japanese torii gate made of stone with a shimenawa rope hanging across, set outdoors among trees.

🛕 Sarashina Shrine
（更科神社）

A poetic and peaceful shrine known for its moonlit legends and connection to classical Japanese literature.

A traditional Japanese red wooden bridge over water in a garden with trees and shrine buildings in the background.

🛕 Ikushima Tarushima Shrine

A powerful Shinto site where the gods of life and land are enshrined. Associated with balance and natural harmony.

A long strip of paper with Japanese calligraphy and stamps laid out on a wooden floor.
Traditional Japanese wooden temple on a hillside with a gravel path leading up to it, surrounded by green trees and foliage.

🛕 Nyohōji Daihikaku Kannon-dō

A hidden hall in the woods in Nagano devoted to the Kannon of Great Compassion. Quiet and deeply spiritual, it offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature’s beauty. (Search using the kanji: 如法寺 大悲閣観音堂)

People visiting a Japanese shrine or temple during autumn, with a large traditional building, a statue of a monk holding an umbrella, and colorful trees in the background.

🛕 Kōsenji Temple
（光泉寺）

Overlooking the hot spring town of Kusatsu, this temple offers prayers for healing and health.

Front view of a traditional Japanese shrine with wooden structure, two Japanese flags, and a white curtain with black circular symbols. Along the roof edge, there are wooden plaques with Japanese writing and decorative elements.

🛕 Kawanakajima Hachimansha

A shrine standing on a famous battlefield. Dedicated to Hachiman, the god of warriors and protection.

Wooden torii gate with hanging shimenawa and shide, leading to a Shinto shrine surrounded by trees and greenery, with stone lanterns on either side.

🛕 Yamaga Shrine
（山家神社）

A calm forest shrine with ties to the Sanada clan. Celebrated for its seasonal festivals and peaceful setting.

Stone statues of Buddhist monks and animals displayed in a wooden shrine with a tiled roof.

🛕 Tenkyūji Temple
（天宮寺）

A small country temple known as the "Celestial Palace." Offers quiet surroundings and classic wooden architecture.

A traditional Japanese wooden pagoda with multiple tiers and curved eaves, surrounded by trees.

🛕 Anrakuji Temple
（安楽寺）

Known for its rare octagonal pagoda, the only one of its kind in Japan. A peaceful Zen temple with a deep history.

Traditional Japanese temple building surrounded by green trees, with a wooden structure, craftwork, and a colorful vertical banner.

🛕 Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya

One of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines. Center of mountain worship and famous for its wooden pillars and Onbashira Festival.