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Local Spirit Record

Kanagawa

神奈川

🗻Prefecture Image Missing
Fig 1. View of KanagawaLocal Archives
CapitalYokohama
Population9200000
RegionKanto

Kanagawa Knowledge

Kanagawa mixes cosmopolitan Yokohama with the ancient religious centers of Kamakura and Hakone. It is a region of sea dragons and mountain demons.

Historical Context

Kamakura was Japan's first samurai capital, a time of war and Zen Buddhism. Enoshima has been a pilgrimage site for goddess worship since the 6th century.

Local Folklore

Enoshima is home to the legend of the five-headed dragon (Gozuryu) and the maiden Benzaiten. Hakone's Lake Ashi hides a nine-headed dragon.

Notable Locations

01

Enoshima

An island created by the goddess Benzaiten to subdue the five-headed dragon Gozuryu.

⚠️ Gozuryu (Dragon)
02

Lake Ashi

A crater lake in Hakone said to be inhabitated by Kuzuryu, a nine-headed dragon deity.

⚠️ Kuzuryu (Dragon)
03

Kamakura

The ancient capital is filled with tales of ghostly samurai and goblin-like creatures in its caves.

⚠️ Nature Spirits
~ End of Local Record ~