All Reviews of Hakone Shrine

The most memorable part of Hakone Shrine is the approach surrounded by towering cedar trees. The entire path has a peaceful, solemn atmosphere, as if you’ve stepped into a forest far removed from the hustle and bustle. Hakone Shrine was founded during the Nara period and is a well-known local shrine, as well as a popular stop for many travelers visiting Hakone.

As you slowly make your way up the stone steps, you can sense the rich history all around you. The ancient trees and traditional Japanese architecture complement each other, making you want to stop and take it all in. One of the most popular sights is the Peace Torii by Lake Ashi. The red torii stands at the edge of the lake, surrounded by beautiful views of the water and mountains, and is also a popular spot for taking photos.

Although there were quite a few worshippers, the overall setting still felt peaceful. There’s no need to plan any special activities while walking around the shrine. Just slow down and take in the atmosphere created by the forest, lake, and shrine, and you can enjoy a relaxing time. This visit to Hakone Shrine not only gave me a chance to appreciate the distinctive features of a traditional Japanese shrine, but also left me with wonderful memories filled with nature and culture.

While taking a sightseeing cruise on Lake Ashi in Hakone, we passed by Hakone Shrine, and the lakeside scenery immediately caught my eye. Seeing the shrine in the distance, surrounded by the lake and mountains, felt distinctly Japanese and made me want to keep looking.

Since we were only passing by on the boat this time, we didn't get off to visit and could only admire Hakone Shrine from the lake. The lakeside atmosphere looked especially peaceful from the water, offering a very different perspective from the view on land.

Although we only passed by briefly, it left a deep impression on me. If I visit Hakone again, I hope to make time to enter the shrine and pay my respects, and I'd also like to see the well-known lakeside torii gate.

There are a lot of stone steps, but they're not too hard to climb. Walking up feels a bit like traveling through time. If you want a photo with the torii gate, come early—otherwise, you'll have to wait in line as more people show up.

There's a huge, bright red torii gate standing by the port at Moto-Hakone. It's over 1,000 years old and definitely one of the must-visit spots when sightseeing in Hakone.

The Peace Torii standing on Lake Ashi is the shrine's most iconic feature.

The ancient trees lining the stairs are massive and you can just tell they've been there forever. The torii gate on the water is the most famous spot—expect a long line of people waiting to snap a photo.

Mountains, water, and trees—this spot has it all. It's a fantastic place with great energy.

A mountain doesn't have to be tall to be spiritual, and water doesn't have to be deep to have a dragon. This saying fits Hakone Shrine perfectly.

You absolutely can't miss the stunning torii gate on the water when you visit Hakone Shrine.

Right next to Hakone Shrine is Kuzuryu Shrine. It's said that if you wash your hands and rinse your mouth with the water from the dragon god's fountain, it will wash away your bad luck.