A Visit to Hakone Shrine, Part 1

Hakone Jinja (Hakone Shrine) sits on the shore of Lake Ashi (Ashinoko) in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture – about an hour’s journey south of Tokyo. Its giant lakeside torii makes it among the most picturesque Shintō shrines, as well as an important historical, tourist, and religious site. Originally founded in the mid-8th century, and moved to its current lakeside location in 1667. According to shrine records, Hakone Jinja was moved after a priest named Mangan subdued the nine-headed dragon that lived at the bottom of Lake Ashi, after which the dragon became a protector of the shrine. Hakone Jinja honors three main deities, including