What other travelers are saying about Hakone Shrine
📍 Hakone Shrine 箱根神社
@ Hakone, Japan 🇯🇵
Visited on 20 November 2025.
Hakone Shrine is a peaceful, spiritual place surrounded by tall cedar trees and a refreshing forest atmosphere. The bright red shrine buildings and stone steps create a sacred, beautiful setting. It’s also known as a popular power spot, where many visitors come to pray for good fortune and blessings.
The walk through the quiet forest felt calming, and the shrine was well-maintained and welcoming. Together with the nearby Heiwa-no-Torii, it’s one of Hakone’s must-visit spots.
A serene and meaningful shrine — beautiful forest path, sacred atmosphere, and a famous power spot in Hakone. ⛩️🌿✨
While there is no specific dress code in Japan, it is recommended that visitors dress modestly and respectfully when visiting any religious site.
Photography is allowed inside the shrine if you respect other visitors and do not disrupt ceremonies or rituals.
Several souvenir shops and restaurants are near the shrine's entrance. Traditional Japanese snacks and street food vendors are also along the pathway leading up to the shrine.
On a clear day, you can catch glimpses of Mount Fuji from certain spots within the shrine or along Lake Ashi. However, there are no guarantees, as visibility depends on weather conditions.
Several annual events and festivals are held at Hakone Shrine, including New Year celebrations and traditional ceremonies for different seasons.
Little bit of a climb up the steps, but we'll worth it. There are a few shrines throughout the area, but this is the largest of the bunch. You can go up and make your offerings. Set in the forest, very beautiful. The cedar trees are humongous, just amazing. The parking lot is not that far away. There is also a small path you can follow instead of the steps. It's just so peaceful and scenic, a must stop.
Hakone-jinja, located on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone, is one of Japan’s most iconic Shinto shrines. Surrounded by towering cedar trees and misty mountains, the shrine exudes a sense of peace and spirituality that blends beautifully with its natural surroundings. Its most famous feature is the bright red torii gate that stands partly submerged in the lake, creating a striking and photogenic scene that has become a symbol of Hakone.
For photographers, Hakone-jinja offers multiple perspectives. The lakeside torii is best captured at sunrise or sunset, when the soft light enhances the colors and reflections on the water. The approach to the shrine, lined with ancient cedar trees and stone lanterns, provides atmospheric compositions that highlight both nature and tradition. Seasonal changes also bring unique opportunities—cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, fiery leaves in autumn, and occasional snow in winter.
Beyond photography, the shrine is a place of worship and cultural importance, attracting visitors who come to pray for good fortune, safe journeys, and harmony. The serene environment invites slow exploration, making it a rewarding stop for both spiritual reflection and creative inspiration.
Hakone-jinja is more than just a shrine—it is a meeting point of history, culture, and natural beauty. For travelers and photographers, it captures the essence of Hakone and remains a must-visit landmark in Japan.
Not really a must-visit if you're short on time, you can just see the Torii gate from the water. If you do - do take a the long walk around, as it is a very tranquil and calm place to visit.
Gotta give this 5 stars, it was beautiful to see in person and got some great photos. Like any big tourist spot, don't go after a certain time unless you're ready to queue for a long time. We got there at 7am and only had 6 or 7 couples ahead of us. If we didn't get the photos we liked, we just queued again which was very fast and everyone was happy to help out.
