Kagami Pond (Kagamiike) is a pond at 1,200 m in Togakushi, in the city of Nagano. On a windless morning the Togakushi peaks reflect in the water. You can drive to a car park beside the pond, which has 50 spaces.
In the autumn-colour season the roads around the pond become one-way to ease congestion. In 2026 the rule applies from 10 October to 3 November, 09:30–16:00: you cannot enter from the Chusha and Okusha side and must use the Hokosha-side entrance. The road to the pond closes in winter. This page covers both entrances, parking and fees, walking times, the winter closure and the bus from Nagano Station.
Kagami Pond at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture; 1,200 m above sea level |
| How far you can drive | To the car park beside the pond (50 spaces). There are two entrances: the Hokosha side and the Chusha and Okusha side |
| Autumn restriction (2026) | From 10 October to 3 November, 09:30–16:00, no entry from the Chusha and Okusha side (beside Soba-no-Mi). Hokosha-side entrance only. No shuttle bus runs |
| Winter | The road to the pond closes in winter. Kagami Pond Donguri House closes from late November to late April |
| Live camera | "Togakushi Kagamiike" camera of the Togakushi Tourism Association, at Donguri House. Updates every 10 minutes and may be interrupted |
| Nearest IC | About 30 minutes (about 20 km) from Shinanomachi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway; about 60 minutes from Nagano IC or Suzaka-Naganohigashi IC |
Map and where to park
- 1Hokosha shrine (entrance to the pond road)
- 2Kagami-ike (50-car park, Donguri House)
- 3Exit by Sobanomi (Chusha/Okusha side)
- 4Chusha shrine
Shinano-machi IC / Nagano IC → 1 → 2 → 3 (no entry from 3, 10 Oct–3 Nov) → 4
The map could not be loaded. Use the junction-by-junction directions below.
The map shows the roads from Shinanomachi IC and Nagano IC to Hokosha. It also shows the road up to the pond from the Hokosha-side entrance, and the road down from the pond to the Chusha and Okusha side. The roads around the pond connect to both sides. You can enter from either side, except during the one-way period and the winter closure.
In autumn, enter from the Hokosha side
From 10 October to 3 November 2026, 09:30–16:00, you cannot enter the roads around the pond from the Chusha and Okusha side (beside Soba-no-Mi). Use the Hokosha-side entrance, whether you are going to the pond or passing it on the way to Okusha or Shinanomachi.
Congestion can make the road past the pond slow. If Okusha or Shinanomachi is your destination, stay on Prefectural Route 36.
Togakushi Shrine car parks and fees
If the pond car park is full, or if you are combining the pond with Togakushi Shrine, use the car parks around the shrine. During the May holidays, Obon (the mid-August holiday) and the autumn-colour season they fill from the morning, and you may be directed to overflow parking.
| Car park | Spaces | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Around Hokosha and Hinomiko-sha | About 20 at Hokosha and about 2 at Hinomiko-sha (both 24 hours) | Free at Hinomiko-sha |
| Chusha Nishi-sando entrance car park | About 15 (24 hours) | — |
| Chusha West car park | About 100 (24 hours; large vehicles allowed) | — |
| Togakushi Tourist Information Centre car park | About 50 (24 hours) | Ordinary cars ¥600 per entry (¥800 at peak times), motorcycles ¥300. An attendant collects fees 08:45–16:30. If you enter outside those hours, pay when you return. One more charge applies after midnight |
| Okusha No. 1 car park | About 100 (24 hours; automatic gate) | Ordinary cars ¥800 for 3 hours, then ¥100 per extra hour (maximum ¥1,200). Large buses and other vehicles 2.7 m or taller including load ¥2,200 per entry. One more charge applies after midnight |
What to see and walking times
The peaks reflect in the morning, and a path circles the pond
The reflection of the Togakushi peaks is clearest on a morning with little wind. A path runs around the pond and connects to the Togakushi Forest Botanical Garden. Spring brings fresh green leaves, summer is cool, and autumn brings the coloured leaves.
Kagami Pond Donguri House opens from late April to late November
Kagami Pond Donguri House, beside the pond, serves galettes made with 100% buckwheat flour. Its gallery shows Togakushi photographs and 4K video, and pets are welcome on the terrace.
It closes for winter from late November to late April. Last winter's scheduled closure ran from 25 November 2025 to mid-April 2026.
Open season and road restrictions
The 2026 autumn one-way rule (10 October–3 November)
From Saturday 10 October to Tuesday 3 November (a public holiday), 09:30–16:00, entry to the roads around the pond from the Chusha and Okusha side (beside Soba-no-Mi) is banned. The pond can be reached only from the Hokosha-side entrance. No shuttle bus runs in 2026.
During the holiday weekend of 10–12 October, local road Togakushi-Kita 129 (Tachimichi) and Yokodaimon-dori near Chusha were also one-way, 09:30–16:00. Farm vehicles were exempt on Togakushi-Kita 129. During that period the Tourist Information Centre car park charged ¥800 per entry.
The road to Kagami Pond closes in winter
The road up to the pond closes in winter. Togakushi is mountain country at 1,000–1,400 m, with far more snow and much lower temperatures than the city. Okusha and Kuzuryu-sha closed for winter from 7 January 2026, and the Okusha approach path beyond the Zuishinmon gate was scheduled to stay closed to visitors until about late April.
Last winter's closures by the Nagano Construction Office included the Togakushi-Shinonoi Line prefectural road between Togakushi-Hiraide and Nanaai-Hiraide, from 28 November 2025 to 10 April 2026. On Prefectural Route 506 (Togakushi Kogen–Asakawa Line), the old-road section between Kitago and Sengo Bridge at Shinkoji was also impassable in winter.
Best seasons and crowds
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| From late April | Highland flowers appear as the snow melts. Donguri House opens |
| Summer | Cool highlands. Kagami Pond in the morning |
| From mid-October | Autumn colour, usually from about mid-October. One-way rule from 10 October to 3 November, 09:30–16:00 |
| Winter | The road to the pond is closed. Last winter the Okusha approach path beyond the Zuishinmon gate was also closed from 7 January |
On autumn-colour weekends, the May holidays and Obon, the car parks around Togakushi Shrine fill from the morning.
You can see the pond before you leave on the Togakushi Tourism Association live camera. The image updates every 10 minutes but may be interrupted.
Getting there and fuel
From Shinanomachi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, follow Prefectural Route 36 to Hokosha in Togakushi, about 21 km, then continue from the Hokosha-side entrance to the pond, about 3 km. The whole drive takes about 30 minutes. From Nagano IC or Suzaka-Naganohigashi IC, allow about 60 minutes. Central Nagano to Hokosha is about 31 km. Fill up in central Nagano or Shinanomachi before you go.
Without a car: take the bus from Nagano Station
Buses from Nagano Station are the only public transport to Togakushi. The reservation-based Togakushi sightseeing express (running until 4 December in 2026) and the [70] Togakushi Line via the Loop Bridge both serve the area. Nagano Station to Togakushi takes about 1 hour. From the Kagamiike-iriguchi bus stop, the pond is about 40 minutes on foot.
The Togakushi sightseeing connection bus links Chusha and Togakushi Campground. To rent a car instead, you need an International Driving Permit or other accepted licence.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I enter in the autumn-colour season?
From 10 October to 3 November 2026, 09:30–16:00, use the Hokosha-side entrance only. You cannot enter from the Chusha and Okusha side (beside Soba-no-Mi).
How many parking spaces are there at Kagami Pond?
- When they are full, park around Togakushi Shrine.
Can I drive past the pond to Okusha?
Yes. The roads around the pond also connect to the Chusha and Okusha side. From 10 October to 3 November 2026, 09:30–16:00, traffic runs one-way from the Hokosha side, and congestion can make the road slow. The road to the pond closes in winter. If Okusha or Shinanomachi is your destination, use Prefectural Route 36.
Can I drive there in winter?
No. The road up to the pond closes in winter. Donguri House also closes from late November to late April.
How much is parking at Togakushi Shrine?
The Tourist Information Centre car park costs ¥600 per entry for ordinary cars (¥800 at peak times). Okusha No. 1 costs ¥800 for 3 hours, then ¥100 per extra hour (maximum ¥1,200). At both, one more charge applies after midnight.
Related guides
Sources & verification
Last verified: 2026-11-02
Updates and corrections
- English guide to driving to Kagami Pond, with the 2026 autumn one-way rule, parking and winter closure.
All sources (12)
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Togakushi Tourism Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Go NAGANO (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Nagano Tourism Net (Nagano City) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-28
- Nagano Prefecture, Nagano Construction Office (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- OpenStreetMap (map positions and route; © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL; route calculated with OSRM) · 2026-10-25
