Hakone Shrine
Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan
Hakone-jinja shrine dates back to the year 757. Many military commanders prayed at this shrine devotedly, which brought it fame throughout the country. Another group of worshippers were travelers, who regularly visited the Hakone area, and often came here to pray for a safe trip. Even today, the shrine boasts numerous visitors from various places, who have the chance to learn about the shrine's history at the shrine treasure house (homotsuden), or see the “red gate of peace” (heiwa no torii) standing proud and tall in Ashinoko Lake. Also, besides the monthly and seasonal festivals and celebrations, a special event, Ashinoko Summer Festival Week, is held every year from the end of July to the beginning of August, during which visitors get to observe a magnificent fireworks display with as many as 18,500 fireworks dancing in the night sky above Ashinoko Lake.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation1:48
Welcome to Hakone Shrine, a site of profound spiritual and historical significance located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ashinoko. Established in the year seven hundred and fifty-seven during the Nara period, this shrine has…
Listen in the app2Section 1: The Heiwa no Torii (The Gate of Peace)1:48
Our exploration begins at the most iconic feature of the shrine: the Heiwa no Torii, or the 'Torii of Peace.' This vibrant vermilion gate stands directly in the waters of Lake Ashi, marking the symbolic entrance for the deities…
Listen in the app3Section 2: The Stairway of Purification1:41
From the lakeside torii, a grand stairway of eighty-nine stone steps leads upward through the dense cedar forest toward the main shrine buildings. This climb is an essential part of the 'o-mairi' or pilgrimage ritual. …
Listen in the app4Section 3: The Main Hall (Haiden) and Rituals1:48
The Haiden, or the Main Worship Hall of Hakone Shrine, is a magnificent structure of vermilion wood and dark roofs, rebuilt and maintained in the traditional style. This is the focus of daily ritual and prayer. …
Listen in the app5Section 4: The Kuzuryu Shrine (The Nine-Headed Dragon)1:41
Located on the same grounds as the main sanctuary is the Kuzuryu Shrine Shingu, a subsidiary shrine dedicated to the Nine-Headed Dragon deity of Lake Ashi. According to legend, a fearsome nine-headed dragon lived in the lake and…
Listen in the app6Section 5: The Treasure House and History1:44
For those interested in the deeper historical narrative, the Hakone Shrine Treasure House (Homotsuden) provides a scholarly look at the shrine's heritage. The museum houses a significant collection of cultural properties,…
Listen in the app7Section 6: The Forest of Soga-jinja1:42
Tucked away in a quieter corner of the shrine grounds is the Soga-jinja, dedicated to the Soga brothers, heroes of a famous twelfth-century tale of filial piety and revenge. This small shrine is surrounded by some of the oldest…
Listen in the app8Closing1:29
As you prepare to leave the hallowed grounds of Hakone Shrine, take a final look up at the towering cedars. You have journeyed through twelve centuries of history, from the lakeside gate of peace to the hidden shrines of the…
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What is Hakone Shrine?
Hakone Shrine is a place in Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Kanagawa Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 13 min 41 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 35.2437, 139.0572 |
| Last updated |
