1-Day Togakushi Tour: Soba making, Ninja Town, and Hidden Shrines

Overview

Available languages

English

8 hours 15 minutes

Mobile ticket

Escape to the Mountains: Ninja, Soba & Sacred Cedars

Step out of the city and into the mist-shrouded forests of Togakushi, where Japan’s creation myths and ninja secrets come to life. This immersive 1-day adventure from Nagano blends hands-on tradition with ancient spirituality.

Tour Highlights:

Master the Soba Blade: Don’t just eat lunch—make it. Under the guidance of a master artisan, you’ll knead, roll, and hand-cut Togakushi’s world-famous buckwheat noodles before enjoying your creation.

The Path of the Ninja: Explore the historic 12th-century refuge of the Togakure school. Navigate the Ninja Trick House, a labyrinth of trapdoors and secret passages, and test your aim with shuriken throwing.

The Giant Cedar Avenue: Walk the ancient Togakushi Kodo pilgrimage trail. Pass through the iconic red Zuishimon Gate into a breathtaking cathedral of 400-year-old cedars leading to the hidden Okusha Shrine.

Perfect for Tokyo Day-Trippers! Easy access via Shinkansen.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

This tour has a minimum of 2 guests to operate

This tour includes a significant amount of walking, often along forest trails. While paths are well-maintained, the ground is uneven in places and requires a reasonable level of fitness to partake. The itinerary is designed to breakup periods of walking into 30-minute blocks. Please ensure you wear good quality shoes or boots.

This tour is well-suited to children but they will need to be able to walk or be carried for up to 30-minutes at a time.

This tour spends a considerable period of time outside. Weather conditions in Togakushi are often notably cooler than Nagano City, even in summer. Please also ensure you wear suitable clothing for the season and bring a waterproof jacket and/or umbrella as weather conditions can change quickly.

This tour includes a 'soba' (buckwheat) noodle lunch in Togakushi village. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know at time of booking.

Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs.

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

Due to the amount of walking, this tour is not suitable for guests who are mobility impaired

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Tonkururin

Start your soba making journey from scratch with the help of your guide and the museum's expert soba artisans. Enjoy the fruits of your labor with a handmade soba lunch inside of the museum's restaurant seating area!

2 hours • Admission Included

Togakushi Shrine Chusha

Depart for the Togakushi Ninja Museum, with a short stop at the Togakushi Chusha Shrine along the way.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Guided tour at all listed attractions

Transportation fee from Nagano to Togakushi and between activities/attractions

Entry ticket to the Togakushi Ninja Museum

English-speaking guide

including your own handmade noodles

Shinkansen/Bullet Train ticket

Accommodation

Additional food, snacks & drinks

Options