Saku: Temple History, Space Exploration and Nature

Saku brings together a wide range of subjects: religious history, historic school architecture, space exploration and a protected natural monument. If you are looking for a hotel in Saku, the focus of your trip can help you decide where to start. The sights in the city range from a Sōtō Zen temple to a walk-through model of the solar system. Historic sites from several centuries are also part of the picture.

Temple, School and Fortress

Teishoji Temple was founded in 1521 by Tomono Sadayoshi, lord of Maeyama Castle, in memory of his grandfather and father. Teishoji is a Sōtō Zen temple, and its grounds include seven buildings. It is considered a representative old temple of Saku and was selected for “Shinshu Hyakuji.” Its founding story and present-day standing make it an important point of reference for Saku’s religious past.

The former Nakagomi School offers a different historical perspective. It was built in 1875 with donations from village residents and other supporters, and is among Japan’s oldest schools in the pseudo-Western style. In contrast to the temple, the focus here is the history of school construction. Together, the two sites offer different perspectives on Saku’s past: religious remembrance on the one hand, and school architecture on the other.

Tatsuoka Castle Goryokaku adds a distinctive type of fortress to this picture. The site in Saku is one of only two star-shaped fortresses in Japan. Its shape is a point of interest in its own right if you are interested in historic sites and their architecture.

Space Exploration at the Usuda Deep Space Center

At the entrance to the Usuda Deep Space Center, a scale model of the solar system runs alongside a cherry tree-lined avenue. It depicts the solar system at a scale of one ten-billionth and can be explored on foot by visitors. The 64-meter antenna offers another perspective on space exploration, and visitors can view it. It sends commands to space probes and receives their observation data. At the same center, both a walk-through representation of the solar system and the technical task of communicating with space probes are in focus.

The sakumo Saku Children’s Future Museum takes a broader thematic approach: its central theme is the origin and development of the universe, the Earth and life. Its subject therefore encompasses not only outer space, but also our planet and the development of life. When planning your trip, you can distinguish this focus from the specific space technology at the Usuda Deep Space Center.

Natural Monument and Local Symbols

The Iwamurada Hikarigoke Colony connects natural history with national protection status. It was discovered in 1910, and glowing moss was first recorded in Japan there. On March 3, 1921, the colony was designated a national natural monument. These dates mark different milestones: the discovery of the glowing moss and the later designation of the colony as a natural monument.

The Pin-koro Jizō was erected in September 2003 as a symbol of health and longevity in Saku. Visitors include older people praying for health and a long life, people concerned about their parents’ health, and families. In this way, the site’s symbolic meaning is connected to a range of personal hopes. Together with the historic buildings and subjects related to space exploration and nature, it broadens the range of interests you can use to shape your trip to Saku.

Discover more destinations: Kiso, Chiisagata District, Yamanouchi, Iiyama, Koumi, Nagawa, Kamitakai District, Minamisaku District

For the broader travel overview: Nagano Prefecture.