Hakone Shrine Lakeside Torii
About This Gate
A vermilion gate standing in the waters of Lake Ashi with Mount Fuji visible behind on clear days. The shrine itself is hidden in a cedar forest — only the gate reveals itself from the water. Built in 757 AD, moved to its current location in 1964.
History
Hakone Shrine was founded in 757 AD during the reign of Emperor Kozoku. The lakeside torii was moved to its current position in 1964 to create a more dramatic approach from the water. The shrine has been a popular destination since the Edo period when travelers on the Tokaido road would stop to pray for safe passage. The torii stands in Lake Ashi, a volcanic caldera lake formed 3,000 years ago.
Symbolism
The torii rising from the water marks the threshold between the mundane world of travel and the sacred realm of the shrine. Its position facing Mount Fuji aligns with the Shinto practice of worshipping natural landmarks as manifestations of divine power. The vermilion color symbolizes the life-giving force of the sun.
Photography Tips
Boat tour offers the best angle
Getting There
From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Bus to Motohakone-ko. The torii is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop. Sightseeing boats from Togendai also pass by the gate.