More than 800 years ago, long before the cedars of Togakushi (lit. hidden door), Nagano, towered over the mountain path, the Togakure-ryu school of ninjutsu was born of a singular dedication to subterfuge and stealth. Now, the trees that line the path to the mountain are 400 years old, forming an important power spot visited by yamabushi monks since the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) ordered their preservation.

As they grew, their lengthening shadows shrouded five sacred shrines, each dedicated to the legend of gods that once freed the light of the sun itself to shine again over a darkened Japan.

The samurai Daisuke Nishina is believed to have invented Togakure-ryu from a combination of warrior training and knowledge of the monastic art of Shugendo in 1184. The practice evolved to incorporate breathing rods, climbing claws, firearms, and much more. Yet much of what is preserved in Togakushi’s museums are simple farming tools and artifacts, themselves greater proof of a living, breathing society than any deadly weapon.