There is a place in Nagano that will make you feel like, "Maybe God really exists..."

When you leave the hustle and bustle of the city and stand on a clear, clear land, don't you feel like the "spirit of prayer" sleeping inside you is awakened? Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture is not just a tourist spot, but one of the "oldest shrines in Japan" that has continued since ancient times. Here are five reasons why you should visit Suwa Taisha. ⸻ 🏯 5 reasons why you should visit Suwa Taisha ① [The head shrine of 25,000 "Suwa Shrines" nationwide] The roots of all the "Suwa Shrines" located all over Japan are here. 📎 **Trivia: ** Suwa Taisha has a unique structure with a total of four shrines, divided into Kamisha (Honmiya and Maemiya) and Shimosha (Harumiya and Akimiya)! ⸻ ② [The "Onbashira Festival" is one of Japan's three strange festivals] A dynamic festival held once every seven years in which giant trees are pulled down from the mountain by hand. 📎**Trivia:** The weight of the Onbashira (pillar) can reach up to 16 tons! It is also a local pride as it is a life-risking event. ⸻ ③【Shintoism without a building】 Suwa Taisha and Kamisha Honmiya do not have a main hall, and the forest itself is the deity. The form of nature worship remains as it is. 📎**Trivia:** This is the very form of "ancient Shinto", and it is very rare for a shrine to have no main hall. ⸻ ④【Enjoy it as a hot spring resort】 Lake Suwa and hot springs are dotted near Shimosha, making it perfect for a relaxing time after visiting the shrines. 📎**Trivia:** There is "geothermal energy" at the bottom of Lake Suwa, and in some years you can see "Omiwatari", where steam rises from part of the lake! ⸻ ⑤【The land of the dragon god legend and the wind god】 The deity enshrined at Suwa Taisha is "Takeminakata no Kami", the god of strength and water. 📎Trivia: He is also worshipped as the "wind god" and has been revered by farmers all over the country as the "guardian deity of wind and rain". ⸻ ✨Summary Suwa Taisha is a place where history, nature, and faith quietly but surely live on. Not just a place to visit, but an experience that will touch your "deepest tranquility in your heart". Why not choose "one of Japan's oldest shrines" as your next travel destination? #Suwa Taisha #Nagano #Domestic travel