Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is the largest and most prestigious shrine in Hokkaido. Of course, many people come to worship at the wedding, “Shichigosan” (a festival day for children of three, five and seven years of age), etc. as well as Hatsumode, and it is a popular spot not only for Sapporo residents but also for people in Hokkaido.
Surrounded by Maruyama Park, the location is lush and surrounded by silence and dignified air that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. In the clear air, it is a place where the mind can be washed just by taking a deep breath.
Hokkaido Jingu is crowded during the beginning of the year and during events such as regular festivals, but on other days it is not so crowded even on weekends, so you can worship slowly or enjoy a walk in the vast precincts.
It is known as a sacred place with various benefits such as money luck and love, and more than 800,000 worshipers visit each year. Of those, 70,000 to 100,000 are foreign tourists.
Hokkaido Jingu is said to have started in the early days of Meiji, when Emperor Meiji began to make the three kami of land reclamation in Hokkaido.
There are “Second Torii” and “Third Torii” in the precincts, and there is also “Maruyama Park Exit Torii” for easy access from Maruyama Park.
“Second Torii” is a torii that is located directly from Omotesando to the main hall. This is said to be a “rupture torii”, so if you want to break a relationship with someone, or want to be free from illness, stress, and nasty things, you should go here. If you are a close friend, couple, couple or family visiting Hokkaido Shrine, please avoid this torii gate, or if it is unavoidable, shift the timing and do not go through at the same time.
“Third Torii” is a torii near Maruyama Park East Parking Lot. This torii is said to be a torii with rising money, so you should enter here. The nearest station is “Maruyama Koen Station” on the Tozai Line. Walk about a 15 minute walk from the station, but a walk in Maruyama Park is pleasant.
The total site area including Maruyama Park is about 180,000 square meters. At the exit of the station, you can see the stylish cityscape unique to the Maruyama area. To go to Jingu, it is recommended to go out from Exit 3 and take a walk in Maruyama Park. The “Maruyama Primeval Forest” spreads right next to the park and is healed by its rich nature.
On Sawa Street in Kita-Ichijo-Miya in Omotesando, you can see a majestic view of large reinforced concrete torii gates while many modern apartments are lined up. You might be a little surprised by the atmosphere.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom every year from late April to early May. Marunoyama Park, right next door, is popular among Sapporo residents as a cherry blossom viewing spot, but there is a cherry tree in Jingu Shrine in Hokkaido where you can enjoy the emotional scenery of spring in Japan.
There is “Rokkatei Jingu Chaya” in the precincts, which is a recommended place for a break. Rokkatei has many stores in Hokkaido, but Yaki-mochi (toasted rice cake), which can only be eaten here, is popular.
In addition, because it is a shrine surrounded by nature, it is rare, but you may encounter wild squirrels, foxes and wild birds. It seems that it often appears in the morning, so pay attention to the top of the tree and the back of the forest when you worship. However, even if you encounter them, please refrain from feeding or screaming and surprised. In particular, the red fox has a parasite called Echinococcus, so be careful not to approach it easily.
The Maruyama area with the Jingu is a stylish and gourmet city in Sapporo. After worshiping in the morning and taking a leisurely walk at Maruyama Park, it is recommended that you enjoy lunch at a shop in the Urasando area.
The strong standpoint of exploitation people
The Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is the shrine built in 1869 in order to consider it as the development of exploitation of Hokkaido, and the strong standpoint of exploitation people. In Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, Okunitama no kami is enshrined as one of the three kami of land reclamation, along with Onamuji no kami (Okuninushi no kami) and Sukunabikona no kami. It is the shrine which the Hokkaido people are familiar with, and the number of worship of the New Year’s visit to a Shinto shrine is the best among this area. Moreover, it is known also to the famous place of the cherry tree, and is crowded with many people at the season of cherry blossom viewing.
Erected for people who challenge exploitation in strange land
In order to advance inland exploitation in early stages of Meiji Era, it was decided to move the base of the administration of Hokkaido from Hakodate to Sapporo. However, cultivation in the intense cold ground reached to an extreme of difficulty. The origin of the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine was erected for people who challenge exploitation in strange land.
A sacred atmosphere drifts there
In Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, it is said that “Kaitaku-jinja Shrine” is also regarded as having divine favor in luck with money, and work luck. A sacred atmosphere drifts and a feeling settles down there. If you need luck with money and work luck, how about dropping in by all means?
The spot that can look at a cherry tree and the plum at the same time
In the precincts, Someiyoshino (Prunus yedoensis), Ezoyamazakura (Prunus sargentii), Shidare cherry (a variety of cherry tree with drooping branches) new in Hokkaido can also be seen. In addition, it is famous as the spot that can look at a cherry tree and the plum at the same time. There is also a stall during the period of cherry blossom viewing. Because the rows of cherry blossom trees in full blossom are the best part, please come once in the season of cherry blossoms!
The whole place covered with snow at the winter
June, when the “annual festival of Hokkaido Jingu Shrine” is performed, is the time when the fresh early summer of northern countries can be enjoyed fully. The cool fresh green is full of the precincts of the major shrine, and the miniature shrine is seen in the city, too. You can go and worship at “Golden Week” (early-May holiday season in Japan) in a plum and a cherry tree, and in the whole place covered with snow at the winter.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
Name: | Hokkaido Jingu Shrine |
Address: | Miyagaoka 474 Sapporo Chuo-ku, Hokkaido 064-0959 Japan |
Access: | Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai-sen Line “Maruyama-koen-eki Station” (15 minutes walk) |
Tel: | (+81) 11-611-0261 |
Price: | Free |
Official site: | http://www.hokkaidojingu.or.jp/ |
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