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Hakone Shrine and the Lakeside Torii: More Than a Photo Stop

The red torii in Lake Ashi is a good reason to come, but the cedar-lined approach and shrine buildings are worth walking beyond it for. The lakeside Torii of Peace and the main worship area are separate places. Leave time for the forest and the shore, rather than giving the whole visit to a photo queue.

Hakone Shrine’s torii at Lake Ashi

Approach from Moto-Hakone with the lake beside you

After arriving by boat or bus, use the shrine’s grounds guide to locate the lakeside torii and the main approach. Lake Ashi has several ports—Moto-Hakone, Hakonemachi and Togendai—so choose your arrival port rather than simply searching for “Lake Ashi”. That makes the start of the walk clearer.

Red gates appear among the cedars along the approach. The shrine describes 90 stone steps from the fourth torii up towards the worship buildings. Comfortable shoes make sense if you plan to combine the lakeside photo spot with a visit higher in the grounds.

Hakone Shrine approach between trees and stone lanterns

The Torii of Peace is one part of the visit

The lakeside gate was erected in 1952 and later received its plaque bearing the word “peace”. It is a familiar photographic setting, but also part of the shrine’s history and religious life. Follow the on-site queue arrangements and keep the path clear while taking photographs.

If the queue is long, you can worship first and return to the shore, or enjoy the lake without insisting on a straight-on portrait beneath the gate. Decide how long you can wait by working backwards from your next boat or bus, rather than relying on a fixed queue estimate.

If steps are difficult, separate the shore from the main shrine

The level spot in the famous photographs does not show the climb to the worship area. If stairs are a problem, contact the shrine about a suitable access route or plan a lakeside visit separately. A vehicle access road with restrictions should not be treated as a freely available pedestrian detour.

If you still feel like walking, consider continuing towards Onshi-Hakone Park. It has elevation changes too, so rest in Moto-Hakone and decide according to your energy and remaining time. For the return cruise, match the port and destination before choosing a departure.

Information checked: October 6, 2026.

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