Asagawara jinja

Located in the northern part of Nagano City, Asakawara Shrine is in the Kitagō area, accessible via Prefectural Route 506 from Asakawa to Iizuna. Kitagō is a quiet area with trees and fields, featuring steep roads barely wide enough for a car.

The shrine is situated on a sunny south-facing slope in a serene settlement. The site includes a community center, a torii gate, and a purification basin.

Built in the late Edo period, Asakawara Shrine exemplifies the transition of carving work from being part of carpentry to becoming a specialized craft. Both the worship hall and the main hall behind it feature intricate carvings, including lions, tapirs, and dragons on the worship hall.

The main hall's carvings include lions, dragons, an immortal riding a dragon, and an eagle on a pine tree. While the shrine is not large, its details are captivating.