Hakone Motomiya Shrine—Mountaintop Sanctuary Above Lake Ashi

A Sacred Summit Above the Clouds

High above Lake Ashi, at the 1,327-meter summit of Mt. Komagatake, lies Hakone Motomiya Shrine — a mountaintop sanctuary unlike any other. To get there, you’ll take a scenic 7-minute ropeway ride from Hakone-en, ascending into the clouds.
 

But unlike most shrines, the object of worship here isn’t within the shrine building itself. It’s the towering presence behind it: Mt. Kami-yama (神山), the tallest peak in Hakone at 1,438 meters. For over 2,400 years, people have climbed this mountain not just for the view, but to pray to the mountain as a living deity.

This is a place where silence has weight. The air feels thin but sacred — ideal for those seeking personal reflection, spiritual energy, and a break from the noise of daily life.
 

Historical Significance

Motomiya is tied to the spiritual founder Mangan Shonin, the monk who is said to have received divine dreams on this very mountain. He not only established Hakone Shrine by the lake but also defeated the nine-headed dragon and enshrined it at Kuzuryu Shrine.

Today, many still visit for blessings in:

Spiritual purification

Good fortune

Protection from misfortune

A View That Stays With You

On a clear day, the shrine offers breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, and even as far as Tokyo.

Access Information

Take the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway from Hakone-en Station

The ropeway ride takes about 7 minutes to the top of Mt. Komagatake

From the summit station, it’s a short walk to the shrine
 

Note: The shrine is best visited in clear weather for panoramic views

More about Hakone Shinto/Shrine

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