An ancient Shinto shrine on the forested shores of Lake Ashi, founded in 757 and once an essential stop for travellers on the old Tokaido highway. The dramatic approach through a cedar forest — the trees are enormous, centuries old, and the path is lined with stone lanterns — gives the shrine a genuine sense of antiquity that the more tourist-oriented sites in the area can't match.
The lakeside torii gate, standing in the water near the shore, is the most photographed spot in Hakone — particularly in early morning when the mist lies over the lake and the gate appears to float. The main hall above the stairs houses impressive architectural carvings. Free admission to outer grounds.