Kuzuryu Shrine (九頭龍神社, Kuzuryu Jinja) is located on the shores of Lake Ashinoko in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is one of Japan’s most famous matchmaking shrines, dedicated to the legendary Nine-Headed Dragon (Kuzuryu) said to have once dwelt in the lake.
According to legend, the dragon was once a malevolent creature that demanded human sacrifices. The monk Mangan Shonin subdued it through Buddhist ritual, and the transformed dragon became the lake’s protector deity. Because of its taming and turning toward good, the dragon is now venerated as a guardian of relationships — particularly those that ask people to change, grow, or transform together.
The shrine is reached most spectacularly by boat across Lake Ashi. On the 13th of every month, a special matchmaking ceremony is held — drawing visitors from across Japan. The act of boarding the boat itself is considered part of the prayer.