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Hakone Shrine, Kuzuryu Shrine

Hakone Shrine, Kuzuryu Shrine

The Kuzuryū Shrine is an outer precinct shrine of the Hakone Shrine, worshipping the guardian deity of Lake Ashinoko and Kuzuryū Shrine. This shrine, located in the forest of Lake Ashinoko, has a small Torii(shrine gate) in the lake and is known for its dragon deity (Ryujin-sama) who is said to have strong powers in bringing fortune, business prosperity and love. During the Tsukinami Festival (festival of the months) held on the 13th of every month, many people come to visit via boats departing from the Moto-Hakone Port. Near the main Kuzuryū Shrine is the Benzaiten Shrine which worships Benzaiten (Goddess of Fortune), one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan. Please feel free to also visit the Benzaiten Shrine when visiting the Kuzuryū Shrine.

Temples & Shrines Tokaido Koshu kaido KANAGAWA
Meigetsu-in Temple

Meigetsu-in Temple

Meigetsu-in Temple in Kita-Kamakura is also known as The Temple of Hydrangeas. For hydrangea season around June, many people flock here to view approximately 2,500 hydrangeas. The hydrangeas planted at Meigetsu-in are all a uniform blue color, dubbed "Meigetsu-in Blue."Visitors can admire the dry zen garden year-round. It is said to represent the mythical Buddhist Mount Shumi.The inner garden hosts a beautiful variety of shrubbery and foliage, and is beautiful all year round. Visitors can only enter the garden twice a year — otherwise, they can only get a peek of the garden through the Main Hall's Window of Enlightenment.The window of enlightenment is a circular window that can be seen when looking into the Main Hall. This window is said to symbolize enlightenment, reality, and the vastness of the universe.Lined with tatami, the minimalistic main hall fills visitors with a sense of calm, and perfectly frames the Window of Enlightenment.

Temples & Shrines Tokaido Koshu kaido KANAGAWA
Soji-ji Temple

Soji-ji Temple

Soji-ji is the main temple of the Soto sect and one of the largest temples in the Kanto region. Originally located in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, it was relocated to Tsurumi in 1911, and contains vast grounds featuring architectural complexes, including the Daseido. Visitors may explore the grounds freely, with the halls of the temple also open to visitors under the supervision of monks. *A 1-hour round-trip course. ※ The experience contains a Zen meditation session in English and vegetarian food tasting. Places for viewing the auditorium on the temple grounds may be restricted due to infectious disease control measures.A temple located in Tsurumigaoka, a scenic place with views of the sacred Mt. Fuji. Open-to-all Zen meditation sessions are held every month on designated days and instruction is available in English on certain days.

Temples & Shrines Tokaido Koshu kaido KANAGAWA
Oyama-dera Temple

Oyama-dera Temple

Known affectionately as "Fudo-san in Oyama," this is one of the three major fudo in the Kanto region. It is also the first of the 36 fudo (immovable buddhas) in the Kanto region. The temple was founded in 755 by Priest Rouben, who was a separate head priest of Todaiji Temple in Nara. The main image of Fudo Myoo, an iron statue of Fudo Myoo, and Nidoko (two children) are designated as national important cultural properties. In November, the leaves in front of the gate change color and are illuminated, creating a different atmosphere than seen during the daytime.Observe the autumn leaves along the temple’s tree-lined steps or ride the cable car to the summit for spectacular aerial views. For a different perspective, visit the temple at night when the autumn colors and grounds are illuminated.

Temples & Shrines Tokaido Koshu kaido KANAGAWA