Hakuba Shrine

The is a location in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow.
==Overview==
The familial shrine of the Hakuba Clan is said to be a popular destination for those wishing to view solar eclipses. Superficially resembling a standard Japanese Shinto shrine, most of its visitors are unknowing of the fact the clan in ownership of it are powerful magic users whose services were employed in the Demon Castle War of 1999, whereupon they were both able to cut Dracula's soul off from the forces of Chaos, as well as seal his castle in one such eclipse, causing the final demise of the seemingly immortal vampire.
In the year 2035, the torii of the shrine unintentionally served as a gateway to Castle Dracula on the eve of the first Japanese solar eclipse of the 21st century, transporting a descendant of the Belnades Clan, a soldier-turned merchant, an amnesiac man known only as "J", a mysterious, cold-mannered man in company of Yoko, the Hakuba Clan's most recent descendant, Mina, and lastly, her best friend (unknowingly the reincarnation of Dracula, himself), to the Dark Lord's castle, thus beginning the events of Aria of Sorrow.
Following Soma's defeat of the same forces that threatened to corrupt his own soul, the castle's interlopers are transported back to the shrine in tandem with the end of the eclipse.
==Gallery==
AOS-Hakuba Shrine 01.png|Hakuba Shrine from Aria of Sorrowʼs opening.
AOS-Hakuba Shrine 02.png|Hakuba Shrine from Aria of Sorrowʼs ending.
==Other appearances==
===Akumajō Dracula: Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku===
In the novel Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku, after saying farewell to Mina at the shrine two years after the events of Aria of Sorrow, Soma is approached by Death, who throws his scythe down, and speaks to him for the first time, musing that with the look being given, nothing was known of a certain "matter" (the return of Dracula's Castle). Rather than answering Soma's request for clarification, he instead asks if plans are had to become his "master". On affirming that no desire was had to become the Dark Lord, Death expresses disappointment, but also assures Soma "No harm will happen to the young lady you are thinking about.", bidding him farewell by saying to "Continue to live your life in peace as a human". Not giving up just yet, Dracula's reincarnation attempts to get more information out of the being, only to be told that as he held no dominance over death, no obligation was had on their part to answer the question. Following this, both Death and his scythe disappear in a puff of smoke, causing Soma to realize the castle had returned without his involvement.
==Trivia==
*According to Mina, Genya Arikado and Yoko Belnades have been visiting the shrine over the years, which is why she knows them.
*The scale of the torii (as seen in the images) changes dramatically, appearing only slightly wider than Soma Cruz in the intro cutscene, yet being several times larger than both he, and Mina in the ending cutscene.
**The color of the archway also changes from bright red to blue-gray.
es:Jinja Hakuba
pt-br:Santuário de Hakuba
Category:Chapels
Category:Aria of Sorrow Locations
Category:Kabuchi no Tsuisoukyoku Locations