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All Japan Ryuren no Kane
AO Edited

Ryuren no Kane

A romantic escape inspired by the legend of a child-eating five-headed dragon.

Fujisawa, Japan

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Ryuren no Kane, also known as the Dragon Love Bell.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Ryuren no Kane, also known as the Dragon Love Bell.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The Dragon Love Bell.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The legendary dragon as seen in the nearby cave.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Off the coast of Fujisawa, just outside Kamakura, Enoshima is a scenic island popular among couples due to its romantic reputations. For instance, there is a “lovers’ hill,” a secluded escape covered with love locks and topped with a lucky bell called Ryuren no Kane, or “Dragon Love Bell.”

The hill is a typical tourist attraction, a so-called “power spot,” and it is said that couples who ring the bell together will stay together for life. But the Enoshima legend that inspired its conception, which concerns the romance between a dragon and a goddess, happens to be a rather dark one.

Legend has it that there once lived a tyrannical dragon who reigned over the Koshigoe area of Kamakura and demanded human child sacrifice. He fell in love with Benzaiten, the guardian goddess of Enoshima, however, and finally mended his ways when she reprimanded him for his horrible deeds.

Though the love story of the dragon and the goddess is well-known and repeated across Enoshima, many tourists are unaware of the grim aspects of the legend. Did the dragon deserve redemption and love? Well, that’s up to your interpretation.

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Folklore Superstitions Bells Dragons

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The bell can be accessed from the grounds of Enoshima Shrine, up on a wooded hill. Though the entrances are easy to miss, there is plenty of signs indicating the direction to the bell. If you are interested in the legend, also consider visiting Ryuko-Myojin Shrine (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ryukomyo-shrine-japan).

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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

August 9, 2024

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Ryuren no Kane
Fujisawa, 251-0036
Japan
35.298733, 139.476831
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Nearby Places

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Fujisawa, Japan

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

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Nearby Places

Morse Seaside Laboratory Site

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miles away

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

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