The Hokkaido Shrine has a history that dates back to 1869. The ceremony of enshrinement, known as "Hokkaido Chinza Shinsai," was held under the orders of Emperor Meiji, where three gods, Ōkunitama-no-kami, Ōnamushi-no-kami, and Sukunahikona-no-kami, collectively known as the "Kaitaku Sanshin" were enshrined to develop, settle, and protect Hokkaido.

The vessels containing the gods were brought to Sapporo from Tokyo via Hakodate. They were enshrined at their current location in 1871. In 1964, Emperor Meiji was deified, and the number of gods to be worshipped rose to four.

In 1974, the main shrine mysteriously burnt down. However, a new shrine was built in 1978, which stands today.

The "Kaitaku Sanshin" is a group of three gods who protect the land of Hokkaido. The main god is Ōkunitama-no-kami, while Ōnamushi-no-kami is the god of business and prosperity and Sukunahikona-no-kami is the god of medicine and breweries. You can pray to these gods for various reasons, such as for success in business, victory, and good health.

When you enter the grounds, you can feel the power and cleansing atmosphere of the gods. People visit and worship here all year round for various reasons, such as Hatsumōde or prayers for milestones or the first day of the month.

The nearest station to Hokkaido Shrine is Maruyama Park Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line, a 15-minute walk to the shrine grounds. (From December 29, 2023, to January 3, 2024, trains will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule).

Additionally, from Maruyama Park Station, you can take a JR bus (routes En15, En16, Circular West 20, 21), and it's about a 4-minute walk from the "Hokkaido Shrine" bus stop.

For those driving, there are two parking lots available: the West Parking Lot and the South 1st Street Parking Lot. The parking fee from the evening of December 31st until January 7th is 500 yen per vehicle as a management fee (for up to 2 hours, with an additional 500 yen charged for each subsequent hour).

Parking Lot Operating Hours
・ January 2nd–3rd: 6:30 AM until closing
・ January 4th–7th: 7:00 AM until closing
・ Regular days: 9:00 AM until closing

The 18-hectare grounds are full of nature and perfect for exploring. As such, many sightseers come on foot.

In particular, there are many cherry blossom trees planted here. It is a popular o-hanami, or flower viewing, spot from the end of April to the beginning of May. With shops popping up, it can get very lively.

Along the path for worshippers from the second torii gate to the main shrine are cherry blossom trees of various varieties, including Someiyoshino, and Ezoyama-sakura, making it a perfect place for o-hanami.

In summer, the green trees and sunlight filtering through them are comforting to look at, and you can fully enjoy the cool summers of Hokkaido.

In Autumn, there are the colors of ginkgo and Momiji, or autumn foliage, and the gorgeous sights and atmosphere make it a place well-known for its autumn foliage.

To top it off, in winter, there is, of course, a blanket of pure white snow, and the atmosphere is not quite so harsh. You can occasionally see Hokkaido squirrels and Ezo red foxes throughout the year, amongst other adorable animals.

One of the delights of visiting a shrine is drawing omikuji (fortune slips). At Hokkaido Shrine, omikuji are sold at the shrine office in front of the main hall.

These omikuji are available in English and Chinese, catering to foreign visitors as well. There is a variety to choose from, including traditional ones and unique variations like "Love Fortunes" and "Children's Fortunes" (available only in Japanese).

The shrine also offers a wide variety of omamori (amulets). These include amulets for safe travel, healing from illness, safe childbirth, and academic success, among other blessings.

Popular choices include easy-to-carry items like straps, netsuke, and keychain-type amulets. Ema (votive tablets) for writing wishes and tying them at the shrine are also available in diverse designs, from zodiac animals to characters.

For those collecting goshuin (shrine stamps), there's a special draw: original goshuincho (stamp books) featuring the design of Hokkaido Shrine's main hall.

For the New Year's visit (hatsumode), unique offerings in 2023 include Hamaya (arrow wards), Kaburaya (turnip-headed arrows), Kumade (bamboo rakes), and Ema (votive tablets) available from December 1st.

Starting January 1st, 2024, additional offerings like Yorisoi Dorei (clay bells), Eto bells (zodiac animal bells), Sukashibori (perforated carvings), and Ittobori (single-cut carvings) will also be available. The offering hall becomes bustling with people preparing for the New Year celebrations.

Within the shrine grounds of Hokkaido Shrine, there are other shrines besides the main shrine. There are three other shrines within the grounds.

Amongst these, Kaitaku Jinja is famous as an especially strong power spot. Starting from Matsuura Takeshirō, who was sent to Hokkaido on an imperial decree, a total of 37 settlers are enshrined there. In memory of the blood, sweat, and tears shed by the pioneer settlers, and to pass down the message of their labor and effort, the shrine was constructed in 1938. From luck with work to luck for victories, many businessmen come here to pay their respects.

Besides this, there are nine different types of prayer tags available, including for paying respects, love, wishes, exams, home safety, business prosperity, warding off evil, health, and sickness, and each one costs 300 yen. If you write your name and age on it, it'll be burnt as an offering during a festival held once every year.

In Hokkaido, many towns prospered because of the coal mining industry. Korei Jinja, dedicated to the coal mine workers' spirits, was constructed in 1943 and moved to Hokkaido Shrine in 1949. Many also come here to pray for traffic safety.

Last but not least, there is Hotaki Jinja. To honor the hard workers of Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, which laid the foundations for Hokkaido's economy, it was first constructed on the rooftop in 1938, and moved to the grounds of Hokkaido Shrine in 1950. There are two bronze statues of guardian dogs, and it is a popular power spot for fortunes in money and wealth.

If you're tired after exploring the shrine grounds, there are two places where you can have a rest.

First is Rokkatei Jingū Chayaten, a branch of the tea shop Rokkatei. Rokkatei is a shop known for its Hokkaido snacks and souvenirs. Besides popular sweets lined up at the shop front, the Hangansama sweets freshly made on a hot plate are the specialty sweets exclusive to the Jingū Chayaten branch.

The buckwheat-containing bun is amply filled, and the grilled sweet is fragrant with a soft inside, and it's not surprising it has many fans. There are spaces in the shop available for you to sit down while enjoying your sweets.

By the way, Hangansama, which means "judge," refers to one of the settlers who was a judge, who came to Sapporo together with the three Kaitaku Sanshin to Hokkaido Shrine, and he is the one who designed the streets of Sapporo to be what they are today, Shimayoshi Take. A statue of him is in one of the corners in front of the main shrine, so try looking for it.

Next up there is the new sweets stand that opened in September 2019, Jingu Chaya. Of all the sweets and dessert shops belonging to the Hokkaido Shrine Confectionery Offering Association, nine have their products for sale at the shop in four-month rotations. There are rare products that are difficult to get in Sapporo, as well as lesser-known sweets lined up for sale as well.

Among the offerings, the "Freshly Baked Lucky Mochi" and soft-serve ice cream made with original pasture-raised milk are particularly popular. The shop also sells coffee, allowing visitors to sit and enjoy coffee and sweets together.

As Hokkaido's most popular spot for New Year's shrine visits, attracting approximately 800,000 visitors annually, the shrine is particularly crowded during the first three days of January. During peak times, there may be restrictions on entry within the shrine gate. If you're concerned about crowds, consider visiting after January 3rd, starting from the 4th.

In addition to the lucky "Eto Bells," Yorisoi Dorei, Sukashibori, and Ittobori are offered from New Year's Day onwards. Other New Year offerings (such as Hamaya, Kaburaya, Kumade, and Ema) are available from December 1st at the shrine. Also, shrine talismans and amulets can be shipped.

Shrine Gate Opening and Closing Times During New Year
・ January 1st: 12:00 AM - 7:00 PM
・ January 2nd & 3rd: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
・ January 4th - 7th: 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM
・ January 8th - 31st: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Text by: Minna no Kotobasha
* The information in this article is as of December 2023.