Hakone Shrine Treasure House

Hakone Shrine is a sanctuary dedicated to Hakone Gongen, the foremost sacred mountain of the Kantō region, located on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. Since its founding in 757 (Tenpyō Hōji 1), it has been a sacred site of the war god and has long collected the faith of samurai from eastern Japan. The Treasure House, which houses swords, armor, and ancient documents donated over more than 1,200 years from the Nara and Heian periods to modern times, holds special significance in understanding Kantō samurai sword culture.

The most renowned piece in the collection is a tachi (Important Cultural Property) said to have been donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo to this shrine. Yoritomo held deep faith in Hakone Gongen and revered this shrine as one of the spiritual pillars of his activities as the founder of the Kamakura shogunate. This donated tachi stands as a first-rate historical document, narrating Yoritomo's faith as the founder of samurai rule, and occupies the most important position not only in Japanese sword history but also in the history of samurai faith during the Kamakura period.

Furthermore, Tokugawa Ieyasu also held deep faith in this place, and the Edo shogunate provided extensive protection to Hakone Gongen. Swords and armor donated by the shogunate and the Tokugawa clan throughout the Edo period are housed in the Treasure House, making it a facility without equal as a place where the two great peaks of samurai faith from the Kamakura through Edo periods converge in one location.

The submerged torii gate (known as the 'Peace Torii') installed in Lake Ashi in front of the Treasure House is known as one of Hakone's most stunning scenic spots and is positioned at the heart of Hakone tourism, combining Gōra, Sengokuhara, and Lake Ashi. From the perspective of sword enthusiasts, this is a facility where one can experience firsthand the connection to Minamoto no Yoritomo, one of the most important figures in the history of Japanese sword culture, and is well worth a visit.