Myoko-Togakushi Mountain Life

Life in the Myoko-Togakushi region has been shaped by five months of snow each year and a deep reverence for the surrounding peaks. Shugendo mountain asceticism has been practiced here for over 1,200 years, and the Fire Festival at Sekiyama Shrine each July continues traditions dating back four centuries. Togakushi's farmers grow a native buckwheat variety sheltered from cross-pollination since 2007, prizing its distinctly bitter flavor. Local craft traditions include chishimazasa bamboo weaving with a 400-year history, and visitors can join workshops at shops in Togakushi.