Ryūgū-jō
In Japanese folklore, is the undersea palace of Ryūjin, the dragon kami of the sea. Princess Otohime, her maidens, and Ryūjin's vassals reside in the palace, as well. "Jinja hime" are yōkai that serve in Ryūgū-jo. During the Edo period, a "jinja hime" reportedly appeared on a beach proclaiming to be "a messenger from Ryūgū." With a six-meter-long, snake-like body, they resemble giant oarfish, which are called "ryūgū no tsukai" (lit. "messenger of Ryūgū") in Japanese. Ryūgū-jō is described in Urashima Tarō as located a several-day swim beneath the sea. A  marvelous gate appears before it. Different versions describe the palace made of gold, crystal, coral, and pearl with sloping roofs that can be seen over the gate. The large hall within is illuminated by fish scales. A garden surrounds the palace, each of the four sides corresponding to a different season: sakura in bloom to the east (spring), buzzing cicadas to the south (summer), multi-colored maple leaves to the west (autumn), and snow-covered ground to the north (winter). One account has three days spent within Ryūgū-jō equal to three hundred years above the surface whereas another version  has three Ryūgū-jō years as seven hundred surface years. Ryūgū Shrine derives its name from Ryūgū-jō. Located on Cape Nagasakibana (also known as Cape Ryūgū) in southern Kagoshima, it is said to be where Urashima Tarō traveled to Ryūgū-jō. Locals honor Ryūjin and turtles as protectors. Katase-Enoshima Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture is designed to evoke the feeling of Ryūgū-jō. In the Ryukyuan religion, Ryūgū-jō (Okinawan: "Ruuguu") is the source of fire for all family and village hearths.