Shojingaike

Small pond on the historic path connecting Yumoto to Hakone Shrine, a route that medieval pilgrims found genuinely hazardous. The steep, narrow trail would turn muddy after rain, and nearby volcanic activity added sulfurous smells and strange sounds. Some pilgrims carved Buddhist statues from the rocks around the pond as protection for the journey. More than 700 years later, many of those figures remain. A small museum beside the pond details their history and gives a sense of what travelers faced before the area became an accessible resort destination. It's a quiet, layered spot that most visitors to Hakone walk past without knowing.