Shakusonji Temple: Hidden Crannies of Japan #1

I decided to start a separate series of blog posts for those surprisingly not-so-rare moments where I randomly stumble across something epic in the middle of nowhere in Japan. Let's talk about going off the beaten path.

The posts will be mostly photo-based with a brief paragraph or two about how and where I find the spots. So here goes number one.

I was actually on a completely different mission to capture some photos of cherry blossoms on this day. I'd seen someone post that blossoms were blooming in Ueda City, but I knew a closer spot I might see them was Komoro Castle and Park. So I headed there first, only to be disappointed that the trees were only just beginning their bloom and not as beautiful as they would be in full bloom. Still, I enjoyed the walk.

As I was short on time, I decided not to continue to leg it to Ueda and instead thought I'd check out my backup spot, also in Komoro. I'd randomly googled "outdoor things to do in Komoro" and Shakusonji was one of the things that came up.

I didn't exactly have high expectations, having admittedly gotten a bit over the temple scene after visiting countless ones throughout the country. Some people never seem to tire of visiting temples--I, however, am not one of those people.

But it looked like a decent spot to see a sunset and not wanting to go home just yet I set out for it anyway.

The closer I got towards the supposed temple location indicated on "trusty" Google Maps, the more I started to think "now this is more like it"....all was thick of forest and the only houses were what appeared to be 別荘 べっそう a.k.a. holiday homes uninhabited outside holiday seasons.

As beautiful as temples can be, one reason they are not my biggest thing is that I'm not a fan of crowded places--and a lot of temples you find online tend to be. So you can imagine how overjoyed I was when I arrived to a near deserted parking lot (above) and empty gravel road (below).

The rock formations, steep valleys and surrounding forest are what make this temple built into the cliff face so remarkable. That and of course, the deserted, almost haunted-feeling atmosphere...

A tunnel bored through the rock leads you to the red building on the cliff.

I even decided to do a little bouldering for a better view.

I later investigated the temple's history a little more, and to my surprise found out it is a sister temple to Nagano City's famous Zenko-ji. Above is a statue of a cow which supposedly stole a precious cloth. The woman who owned this cloth chased the cow all the way from here to Zenko-ji, where it transformed into a Kannon (goddess of mercy).

Getting to Shakusonji Temple:

Shakusonji is located in the town of Komoro, Nagano. Unless you are keen on a 3h return walk from Komoro Station along roads designed for cars rather than people, you will need either a rental car or a taxi. By vehicle it is just 15min from Komoro Station.

Getting to Komoro Station

By Train

From Tokyo: Just 1h 45m from Tokyo. Take the Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, then change to the local Shinano Railway for Komoro Station.

From Nagano City: About 50min. Your cheapest option is the Shinonoi Line which goes directly to Komoro Station, or you can take a combination of Shinkansen and local line here as well.

Closest Airport: Matsumoto (a possible option for those coming from other parts of Japan)

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