EDITORIALS
Heartwarming at "Kitamon Shrine," the northernmost shrine with a Shinto priest!
It is about a 15-minute walk from Wakkanai Station on the JR Soya Line. Overlooking Wakkanai Port is Kitamon Shrine, the northernmost shrine in Japan with a resident priest. Because of its easy accessibility, the shrine seems to attract not only locals but also many worshippers who collect red seals these days.
There is also said to be some kind of unique omikuji, so why don't you take a peek?
Kitamon Shrine was moved to its current location in 1894. Since then, the shrine has been a favorite of the local people and has become a spiritual center for them. The first thing you should pay attention to when entering the shrine grounds are the komainu (guardian dogs). If you look closely at the feet of the guardian dog on the left, you will see a small child sitting on the ground.
Because of this unusual guardian dog, it is said that worshippers at Kitamon Shrine will be blessed with a child if they visit the shrine. The adorable guardian dog with a child is also used as a design for the guardian angel of childbirth.
It is said that Kitamon Shrine was originally built in Soya by a man named Denbei Murayama, who saw a crowd of people worshipping the sun on the beach, and built a shrine in Soya as a guardian deity for safe voyages and great catches. For this reason, the shrine is said to still be visited by many people involved in the fishing industry.
Now, after visiting the shrine, how about a fortune? Ordinary omikuji is fine, but this Kitamon Shrine is actually one of the 12 shrines that offer "Ezomikuji," a series of local mikuji in Hokkaido.
Ezo-mikuji are unique omikuji written in the Hokkaido dialect, based on local specialties and other motifs. Available at Kitamon Shrine is the Ikani moi mikuji (400 yen), which is a papier-mâché crab.
The Komainu (guardian dogs) will soothe you, the Ezomikuji will make you smile, and the Kitamon Shrine will somehow make you feel at home. If you visit Wakkanai, why not stop by? The path leading from the shrine grounds to Wakkanai is also maintained as a promenade, so you can refresh your body and soul.
Kitamon Shrine
Location: 1-1-21 Chuo, Wakkanai City, Hokkaido
Tel: 0162-22-2944
There is also said to be some kind of unique omikuji, so why don't you take a peek?
Kitamon Shrine was moved to its current location in 1894. Since then, the shrine has been a favorite of the local people and has become a spiritual center for them. The first thing you should pay attention to when entering the shrine grounds are the komainu (guardian dogs). If you look closely at the feet of the guardian dog on the left, you will see a small child sitting on the ground.
Because of this unusual guardian dog, it is said that worshippers at Kitamon Shrine will be blessed with a child if they visit the shrine. The adorable guardian dog with a child is also used as a design for the guardian angel of childbirth.
It is said that Kitamon Shrine was originally built in Soya by a man named Denbei Murayama, who saw a crowd of people worshipping the sun on the beach, and built a shrine in Soya as a guardian deity for safe voyages and great catches. For this reason, the shrine is said to still be visited by many people involved in the fishing industry.
Now, after visiting the shrine, how about a fortune? Ordinary omikuji is fine, but this Kitamon Shrine is actually one of the 12 shrines that offer "Ezomikuji," a series of local mikuji in Hokkaido.
Ezo-mikuji are unique omikuji written in the Hokkaido dialect, based on local specialties and other motifs. Available at Kitamon Shrine is the Ikani moi mikuji (400 yen), which is a papier-mâché crab.
The Komainu (guardian dogs) will soothe you, the Ezomikuji will make you smile, and the Kitamon Shrine will somehow make you feel at home. If you visit Wakkanai, why not stop by? The path leading from the shrine grounds to Wakkanai is also maintained as a promenade, so you can refresh your body and soul.
Kitamon Shrine
Location: 1-1-21 Chuo, Wakkanai City, Hokkaido
Tel: 0162-22-2944
Writer Profile
Hokkaido Sightseeing Turtle Writer Bubu-Neko
I'm "Bubaneko," a writer with many connections to Hokkaido's sights and tourist facilities. There are many wonderful resources, even the ones we take for granted when we live in Hokkaido. I will be sharing these wonderful attractions of Hokkaido with you.
