Suwa Taisha

One of Japan's oldest shrine complexes, predating written records, and spreads across four shrines around the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano. The Upper Shrine and Lower Shrine each have two buildings. The complex is best known for the Onbashira Festival, held every six years in years ending in 2 and 8, when enormous log pillars are cut from the mountains and riders descend steep slopes on them before the logs are erected at each shrine's four corners. Even in non-festival years, the ancient cryptomeria groves and sacred hot springs make for a spiritually substantial visit with strong historical depth.