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Zuishin-mon: A Portal to Enoshima Shrine’s Mythical Past
瑞心門：江の島神社と龍宮伝説をつなぐ門
A visit to Enoshima Island, off the coast of Shonan Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, led me to a grand gate marking the entrance to a complex of Shinto shrines atop the island. Stone stairways wound their way up through the lush hillside, adorned with rows of chochin paper lanterns set out in celebration of the New Year’s holidays.
The Zuishin-mon Gate (瑞心門) is designed in the style of Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城, Dragon Palace Castle), the mythical underwater palace from a famous Japanese folktale. According to the legend, a fisherman rescues a sea turtle and is invited to Ryūgū-jō as a reward. There, he is entertained by Princess Otohime, only to discover upon returning home that what felt like a few days was actually 100 years.
The name Zuishin-mon roughly translates to “Pure Heart Gate.” It was given this name with the hope that visitors would find spiritual renewal by offering their prayers here.
Surrounded by lush greenery, the gate’s imposing presence creates a distinct boundary between the sacred and the secular worlds.
Beyond the gate stands a stone sculpture of Benzaiten (弁財天), the patron goddess of water, eloquence, music, and knowledge. This statue was dedicated to commemorate the establishment of Enoshima Shrine in the year 1450, which sits atop Enoshima Island.
- Location: Enoshima Island, Japan
- Timestamp: 2025/01/03・14:07
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 37 mm ISO 200 for 1/500 sec. at ƒ/11
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