A Morning at Japan's Mysterious Mountain Shrine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Japan is filled with mountain shrines. Some hard to get to, some hard to traverse, and some, mysterious and beautiful. While this shrine may be rather easy to access, its all about the journey from when you arrive...
This is Togakushi Shrine in Nagano, Japan.
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**The Start of a New Adventure is here!! This... is Video #1**
This adventure is going to be a little... unique (^_-)
Thanks to Taiki for joining me on this adventure. Taiki is linked in the description along with other goodies! (including the music source for the video)
For behind the scenes secret videos and more, come hang out on Patreon [below]
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Nice video, whilst I like the city related ones, one like this in a forest setting I just find calming ... I think it's all the green. It's nice to see it as well as it not the sort of place I'll be able to go to in Japan as I don't drive which limits my access to them.
Awesome brother, I'm ready for the experience lol
Hi Norm
Omg so beautiful I would of spent hour's there taking photos 📷 the stairs would of killed me but the shrine would of been worth it in the end.
😃😍💙💙👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👋👋👋👋
Rather than Ghibli, it reminds me of Mushishi! And Taiki, I empathise with your hatred of bugs 😌🙏🏻
So surprised when your companion was not Victor!
This is seriously some beautiful stuff, I mean look at those trees, I'm in awe.
A truly incredible space~
@@TokyoLens True 🥺
The scene and then the music.
PERFECTION
I can never get past just how beautiful and surreal the scenery is there. These videos just keep bolstering my excitement and cant wait till I can finnally take my trip.
It’s going to be an incredible trip when you finally get here
Intro got me like whaaaat!!
It looks super nice !
I’m so happy that we did this together and managed to wake up super early hahaha
Taiki!! Thanks so much eh!!
Looking forward to the next video already~
Been there 5 years ago, it was full of snow and I was traveling on my own, I loved every second of the journey and I am dying to go back. thank you for bring back happy memories!
Those trees are absolutely gorgeous. It's fun to go from watching a video about the tiniest house to the wide open woods.
Norm...wow. Some parts of this video were just heartbreakingly beautiful (the huge amazing trees with sunlight filtering through; the drums in the temple), then juxtaposed with the humorous bits like Taiki looking at his phone un his shirt! Looks like an awesome part of the adventure; thanks for sharing it with us :)
Can’t wait to get the next video out!!
Stunning work, Norm.
The shrine is always the reward for the hundreds, if not thousands of stairs. Love the bells 🔔 ❤
Thanks so much eh!!
Definitely gotta go on your next visit!
@@TokyoLens For sure! 🥰
Binging through all your videos and just watching this I can tell that no matter how many of these mountain shrines I'd visit, I'd never get tired of those beautiful views.
The background music is perfect for this peaceful forest. So peaceful and calming. Beautiful forest. Never heard of this place so I thank you for showing it to us
Thanks eh!!
just needed to get the right music for this one~
@@TokyoLens please please the second track, the name of the artist, i cant find it argh
I also can't find it. Please, who is the artist??
Another magical video ♥ The music you picked to go with the trees at the start was perfect, and those trees look amazing. I can see why people travel there for pics. The shrine itself is very quaint, and as you said - humble.
I've always read that it's never about the destination - it's the journey that you take to get there. The people that you meet along the way, the route that you travel, how long or slow it takes you to get there. Life itself is a journey.
*adds to list of places to visit*
Awww
I’m really glad that you enjoyed it as much
It actually took me longer to choose the music for this video than it took me to edit it
But I’m glad it all worked out!
A very worthwhile visit if I do say so myself 😊
@@TokyoLens I always enjoy your videos - they're either informative, fun or a mix of both. And your style of telling a story about each placeis easy on the ears.
The music - worth the time to find in my opinion.
In awe of this beautiful forest. So jealous you got to explore it all together.
Always love coming back to videos like this. This spot pops up online all the time so rather than just the "instagram spot" I appreciate you capturing the rest of its beauty for us to see!
This place looks incredible, even withought you saying it I felt like it was took right from a Ghibli movie.. amzingggg! more like Ghibli took inspiration from the local nature to be more accurate. Love it, I keep adding up places I want to check on my next trip to Japan (if it'll be sometime soon) thank you for showing us these amazing unique places!
That path to the shrine looks amazing to walk down, would definitely love to go there myself.
That place looks incredible: giant tree-lined paths, moss-covered structures that seem ancient, verdant foliage...I agree that it has a Ghibli-esque look and feel to it...I couldn't have said it better myself!!! And then we see the shrine...absolutely beautiful!!! I have to commend you on your camera work for your videos!...you really bring out the beauty and majesty of each place you visit!!! Do you use a drone for those sweeping overhead shots? Superb video!!!
Beautiful places like this on our Earth and people keep focused on other planets...
Thank you for unraveling these magical landscapes and allowing us to experience the sights at least once in our lives.
Thank you for such a kind comment!!
Beautiful and peaceful. This is the type of places I love visiting in Japan and getting there is half the fun. It's like a mini-vacation within a vacation. I was planning on visiting this shrine for my 2020 Japan vacation when Covid happened. Thinking of doing it this year too, but Japan is still not allowing international tourists just yet. I might have to settle for a 2022 trip. Thank you for sharing this place.
Really been loving the content recently Norm! The beautiful places you've been to, combined with the cinematography and the stories told have made for a really nice respite from the situation in the outside world. Also massively appreciate the switch to 4K for said content, if nothing else because TH-cam doesn't murder the quality as badly as it does 1080p. It really helps bring these places to life through a screen.
Your videos are always so peaceful and breathtaking.. I feel so relaxed on every video that i can imagine like i actually was in those places ♥
Thank you so much
This was a really peaceful morning and I’m glad I could share it
So beautiful! Thank your for trekking up and down all those stairs so we could enjoy this 💜
I recently discovered your channel, your videography is beautiful. I also love that your videos take place out of the cities. Every time I watch a video I think now this is Japan.
Welcome to the adventure!!
I have a love for road trips
And I try to squeeze in a few every year
If you enjoy the out of the city stuff
There are a ton of previous road trips to catch up on that have some incredible spots
If you end up doing a binge, be sure to leave me a trail of comments so I can follow along!
@@TokyoLens I already have! My favorite was going through the city of dolls or scarecrows, and visiting the old school that the owner now lives in. I know those sound like weird favorites but their unique, original, and have a story to it.
What a beautiful place!!
This type of shrines really make me feel calm and peaceful!
Lovely video!
These mini adventures are super inspirational - thanks Norm and Taiki!
just love watching your videos. it gives me a peaceful vibe kind of feeling and give me ideas of where to go when I do my Japan trip next year or when ever Japan opens
Love the cedars and redwoods. Love the moss. Love the belled quiet. Love the grandiose torii and views. Absolutely HATE the ninja mosquitos. I get bitten even through repellant. Morning 🌄, Norm. 👋
Lol ninja mosquitos for the comment win today lol
Feels like venturing to a magical world 😍 Cedar tree forests are so stunning... This place definitely enter my list of place to visit next trip ✨
There you are! Lol
100% agree with you mate - when a massive entrance leads to something quite humble (in comparison), it evokes a feeling of satisfaction that is hard to describe. Great video mate
Absolutely stunning! This is keeping me until I can get back to Japan. Thank you so much for all the amazing videos you post.
There is something magical about this place. It is amazing.
Such a calm and peaceful song selection for a beautiful video like this. Love it, Norm!
Those trees...I couldn’t stop looking a those trees! This looks like straight out of some fairytale, really beautiful! Would love to visit this shrine, but I‘m not sure I would survive those stairs lol
It felt weird to keep taking repeated shots of trees
Yet at the same time, I couldn’t stop...
Hey Norm, discovered your channel a few weeks back and for the last 2 weeks, I've been absorbing everything you've produced, from the beardless Norm from 6 years ago to young Norm from 15 years ago. First time posting a comment thou, wanted to let you know I've been in a rather dark place for a few months now and your content has helped me focus on what is important.. see I've always been the guy that keeps an eye on the destination and never really paid much attention to the journey, I'm going to change that about me and pick myself out of this rut and make something great of the time I've been given. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me. And please keep the content coming. P.s like you said to the Yoshida brothers, I will see you one day in Japan. That is a promise! :)
Such an amazingly kind comment mate
Do me a favour...
Drop me a DM on Instagram. There’s something I want to do for you~
I cannot begin to express my love for these Nature exploration videos in Japan ❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful place and beautiful shooting! The music chosen for the bgm matches the ambience of the place as well...
Absolutely loved this video!
Absolutely beautiful & serene . Thank you so much for filming this. I immensely enjoyed this vid. Norm you don't disappoint.
Thank you so much for watching 😊
Found this channel today binge watched all videos..... One of the better vlogger channels.....
I imagine the fresh air, wind blow, birds singing, water river sound, greeny... It's so peaceful 😌
Great way to start off a morning.
The scenery was simply beautiful and picturesque. 😱
Great video and thanks for sharing. 🙂👍
(#234) this is so cool...i just got done watching Sharla's vlog that she was in the memoria forest. Such beautiful sights!!!
🌳 🌳 🌳
Not going to lie, when you showed the hollow trunk and that gorgeous spring green meadow, I was half waiting for Totoro or some other forest spirit to be there! On another note, those trees! So humbling and mesmerizing….
Absolutely beautiful.
Loved every second~
i am definitly in love with your production style and the places u visit, thank you so much and cheers from the Dominican Republic.
This is absolutely beautiful. Would love to see more shrine or any cool hike really that has ceanary like this. Keep up the grind and thank you for the vids.
I've seen you in Sharla's videos for a long time, and honestly I regret not checking out your channel sooner!! I really love your content and cinematography style. I'm so happy I subbed! 👍👍
The view the music is everything. I cant wait till I'm able to go back to Japan
Beautiful video Norm, thanks. The only thing I don't like about these kind of videos are that I could watch them for hours, not minutes. Keep up the great work pal...
lol well in the case that you are interested, I tend to put more uncut or longer videos up for the full-adventurer tier of my patreon~ would absolutely love to have you over there
But more often than not, I keep losing footage for the vids I want to do here on youtube lol
its... been a bit of a stress lol
Great video! ☺️ I loved all the different shots of the area and the background music/sounds were great. I'm a sucker for good background music/sounds backing beautiful videos.
I hate bugs and stairs too but I think I would deal with them just to see all that. Everything looked so beautiful. ❤️
lol yea the music took longer than the edit haha
glad you enjoyed it that much!
"we are not paying double!"
😂 Priorities
Gotta nail those priorities lol
Taiki is me! XD
I agree with Taiki on this one lol
Dang those trees are crazy crazy amazing!!! How do you find all these hidden gems!!! 😻😻😻
😉 time~
You have such an amazing eye for establishing shots… absolutely gorgeous. Also I read or heard once that the wearing of bells was to keep bears away I believe
What a gorgeous path and area!! And ofcourse the shrine :P
I kinda miss the crisp sound of walking on such a path and the drums really adds to the admosphere.
Also your videos made me take more pictures with my phone, just to train to look at beautiful places and appreciate my enviroment more.
Magical and absolutely stunning!! Great video Norm!
Thank you~
Japanese Nature never fails to amaze me. Such a beautifull forest with trees ive never seen bevore all that combined with the shrine? Amazing
i was here in feb 2020, winter time.... ig worthy location...the trees are just magnificent..
😊 🌳
And no bugs....
This video is exactly what i was searching for almost an hour
My 21 month old son's literal reaction to your video, " WOW ".
Since the pandemic he had never seen what forests look like and how green things are away from the big city. It was new and exciting for him to see. Thank you.
Dude, that shot at 2:00 with the trees is amazing. Love places like this.
this is such a magical spot for lack of a better word. It looks really peaceful :) Thanks for sharing :)
i think you found your new catch phrase, "it's always about the journey". Another magical video :) I could never go there, my wife hates stairs (she had massive issues at Mt Takao, and we went because of your video!)
Lol heyyyy don’t blame meeee hahaha
This is MUCH easier than takao though
And you don’t really need to get to the shrine!
The row of trees is good enough and the nearby campsite is nice!!
@@TokyoLens that's great to hear ;) PS i ate one of every dango at Takao! Keep up the amazing videos, letting me build another trip based on your clips when ever we are allowed to come back
Beautiful, I love it. When I am able to get to japan myself I need to visit. Out of shape or not I will visit and hike to the shrine. I love pushing myself to see beautiful sights.
Thank you for delivered beautiful scenery!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Love this video! This place is absolutely stunning!
I hiked up to Togakushi In winter, snow up to my knees. Amazing place. Best of all enjoyed a good serve of soba at the entrace when I came back down.
Beautiful...
that's a good walk
The best part is, you share it with us.
Hey Norm, not sure if you would see this haha but just wanted to say a big thank you for all your videos! I have since taken a few solo trips to Japan and finally made it to this shrine, it has been on my bucket list since I saw this video! Thank you to showcasing it! And glad to report, I made it on Tuesday and it was magical! So thank you again! 🙏🏻
I see every comment!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this.
And I’m really glad that you enjoyed it.
Little moments like this are the reason I keep an eye on my comments section!!
I hate YT for not telling me there's a new video - and i have the bell all on and all. As usual - thank you for sharing your time with us Norm. Cant wait to go back to Japan.
..that tree lane is like..some great artist's painting come to life...picturesque..surreal. . .
The only thing I miss from the video.
The smell of of the cold morning air in the woods.
This brings up memories from 出羽三山 Dewa Sanzan ☺️☺️
How fascinating! I wish I could go to Japan someday
Hope you can make it!!
Those trees are so big! So awe inspiring.
There's a man who used to do walking vlogs through the Japanese countryside back in the early days of TH-cam. He would go real deep off track into woods as well. In one of his videos he traversed across a river and there were remains of a very old foot bridge, that people obviously used to cross the water and of course there must've been an ancient path this way. So he entered the woods on the other side and not far into the forest which contained long forgotten and ancient rice paddies that had been reclaimed by the bamboo there was a shrine. I was so amazed and I'd love to visit it but I don't think I'd ever be able to find it if I visited Japan.
What was the name of the youtuber ?
@@KEI23675 softypapa but he had another channel and sometimes his walking videos were on that, I went looking through his old videos recently but I couldn't find the one I'm talking about here!
Your videos make me so excited for my trip Japan! I was supposed to be there early this year, but ya know Rona 😅 BUT I just rebooked my trip for end of Feb/Beginning of March 2022 for my birthday! I'm so beyond excited and I really hope to make it to some of the places you've posted about, this being 1 of them... This video is absolutely surreal and breathtaking 😭😍💜💜 much love from Arizona ❤️❤️
Thankyou to sharing your videos with us. Its a amazing views.
I love these natural areas. They’re just so peaceful
Wowwww peacefully kilometer walk, surrounded by grees & giant trees such an amazing scenery and a humble shrine... Feels like cleared my mind and my soul...❤️🙏
Your videos are amazing... I am a huge fan of yours.. I am inspired by you and started publishing my vlogs in Japan, as I live in Japan..
You are a great inspiration 🙏
cheers~
a small piece of advice... start making content now. even if you dont publish. make something with what you have. make something where you are. make something every day. If you can succeed in consistently making things now, then you have a great shot at continuing that existing success when you come!
@@TokyoLens Thank you sooooo much... That's really helpful ❤️
I really want to see more of your content!! Keep up the good work!
Hi Norm, hope all is well? Another stunning video 😊 cannot wait till our holiday to see all these amazing places in person
Until then
I’ll keep bringing you along with me!!
@@TokyoLens 😊 you're videos are the reason we booked ❤ so thank you for sharing
It's a good thing that you are a "morning bird" in addition to a "night owl". It means you get some fantastic footage. Mind you, I have no idea when you manage to sleep! :-)
1:56 My God! It's like an illustration out of a fantasy novel! It's so cool to realize that such places actually exist in real life. Ghibli-esque indeed!
You always manage to find the most interesting companions for your explorations. Taiki seems like a good man to travel with.
I love how your editing of the visuals and the music flows together so well. Every video shows how talented you really are with this kind of thing.
6:50 I think you hit the nail on the head here. The shrine, though beautiful, is not the most important thing here. It's the location and the carefully laid out path to get to it. When you think about it, after coming up to the shrine through that landscape, you are definitely in a spiritual frame of mind. That does make the actual shrine buildings the less important part of the whole.
Thank you for this (I'm always saying that!) Finding your channel was like discovering a treasure that keeps renewing itself.
lol trust me... I am no morning person at alllll hahaha
but for places like this, its worth the effort for sure!!
The landscape is beautiful, pefect for a walk!
Such a beautiful shrine, it will come on my list thanks norm :)
Amazing views! ❤
Your videos are so unique, every video makes me inspired to go to Japan. Thank you
This scenery feels like it gives me inner peace
another awesome video as always keep up the great work
Thanks so much!!
Just added this to the list of places I want to go to. It looks amazing.
I love your videos. It felt so magical like Studio Ghibli vibes
I look forward to your videos about the wonderful place you go to.
"Taiki doubts of the existence of the shrine" - man of little faith hahaha! But it looks like a very exhausting ascension through the mountain.
Aren't there hotels or ryokans close by? Because: camping + army of bugs = nightmare.
I don't kow if there is anything closer, but I stayed in central Nagano when I visited that shrine. It was easy to travel in between by bus!
You’re up pretty late norm. Thanks for your hard work on these videos and in the comments, they’re great 😊
Aww thanks eh
I always love to hang out in the comments for the first hour or so!!
Appreciate the kind words~
It’s an hour later my time, nice calming video for when you wake in the middle of the night
I went to Togakushi back in 2018 with my small martial arts dojo! (We're 5 people) We went as a day trip from Kashiwa where we stayed for training. It was beautiful, and always a humbling experience to climb the last sets of stone stairs 😅
Norn , Your Upping the Game . Beautiful Video.
Awesome Vid Norm, Great spot.
One day I will go to Japan and explore. Don't care if I walk all day since the places are spectacular. Already mesmerized by the view and then- "Ghibli-esque"... Subscribed😁.
Great video, that forest really had a mysterious feel! Could you recommend other hikes or camping spots?
Absolutely I can
This is the start of a one week adventure that was done entirely through camping
Stay tuned.... 😉
I like the music you put to these travel vids Norm!!! 👍
Thanks eh~
Hope yall are doing well!
@@TokyoLens Yeh man were all good thanks!! Can't wait to get back!!!🤔✌
Beautiful Norm! 🙏
I’m loving your channel. Our borders are closed here in Australia 🇦🇺 so it’s my main contact with Japan right now. Can’t wait to return when this pandemic shtick is done.
Thanks so much for the kind words
Ill do my best to keep bringing the adventure your way!
I cant wait to go to Japan. I will walk the 8 km post town trail u walked. Just amazing 😌