Begin your guided walk at the north approach torii gate of Suwa Taisha Kamisha Honmiya, one of the major shrines of the ancient Suwa faith. Your guide will introduce the purpose of the tour: to explore a shrine tradition that is often seen as preserving deep traces of ancient and medieval ritual practices.
Walk towards the main worship area, passing through the shrine grounds and, when accessible, across Nunobashi Bridge. Along the way, hear local legends and stories connected with Honmiya, including traditions counted among the shrine’s mysteries. At the purification area, experience the hand-washing ritual before offering a prayer at Honmiya.
Near the first Onbashira pillar of Honmiya, learn about the famous sacred pillars of Suwa. Your guide will explain that their meaning has been interpreted in various ways, including ideas related to shrine renewal, marking sacred space, boundary symbolism, and the re-sanctification of land. This will help you understand why the Onbashira tradition remains one of the most powerful symbols of the Suwa region.
Next, walk to the Jinchokan Moriya Historical Museum. Inside the museum, discover the distinctive ritual world of Suwa faith, where hunting, agriculture, regional authority, and offerings to the deity were closely connected. Your guide will introduce topics such as the former Ontosai ritual, the relationship between warriors and the Misayama festival, and the special role of deer in Suwa religious tradition.
Behind the museum, visit the Otō Mishaguji Sōsha, a site connected with Mishaguji beliefs. Learn how Mishaguji has been discussed in various ways and why it is often considered important for understanding the deeper layers of Suwa faith.
Continue on foot to Suwa Taisha Kamisha Maemiya. From the first torii gate, walk past nearby shrine sites such as Wakamiko-sha and Jikkenrō before reaching Maemiya. At Maemiya, your guide will explain how the area inside the sacred enclosure remains a place people do not enter, and how some traditions regard this site as an early ritual centre of Suwa worship. The tour ends near the first torii gate of Kamisha Maemiya.
