Hakone Shrine
A shrine in cedar forest above the lake, with a vermilion gate standing in the water below it that has become one of Japan’s most photographed objects.
The gate in the water
Hakone Shrine was founded in 757 and sits in dense cedar forest on the slope above Lake Ashi, approached by a stone stairway between enormous trees. Its Torii of Peace stands in the lake itself below the shrine, and in the last decade it has become one of the most photographed objects in Japan — there is now a managed queue for the single framed spot, which most visitors join without realising the shoreline either side gives much the same view. The shrine above it is free, quiet and considerably better than the queue suggests.
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What to look for
A forest approach, a shrine and a gate — and the approach is the best part.
🌲 The cedar avenue
- A stone stair between huge cedars from the lakeside up to the shrine
- Misty and near-empty first thing
⛩ The lake torii
- The Torii of Peace standing in the water, reached by a short path
🐉 Kuzuryu Shrine
- A nine-headed dragon shrine on the lake shore, associated with relationships
Getting there
At Moto-Hakone, at the southern end of the lake.
🚢 By boat
- Cross the lake from Togendai and walk 10 minutes from the pier
🚌 By bus
- Direct from Hakone-Yumoto to Moto-Hakone, about 40 minutes
🚶 On arrival
- A cedar-lined stair up to the shrine; the lake torii is a level path
When to visit
Free and open, so the only issue is the queue at one spot.
🌅 Early
- Before 9am the torii queue is short and the cedar avenue is misty
📅 Avoid
- Weekend middays, when the torii queue can exceed an hour
🍁 Season
- Autumn colour through the cedar approach in November
Visitor intelligence
One piece of advice saves most of the frustration people report here.
📸 The queue
- The long queue is for one framed viewing platform only
- The shoreline path either side is free, open and gives a very similar shot
🗣 Language
- Bilingual signage covering shrine etiquette
🥾 Practical
- The stair to the shrine is long; the lake torii route is level
🙏 Etiquette
- An active shrine, not a photo location — keep the approach path clear
Frequently asked
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