About a 15-minute walk from Wakkanai Station on the JR Soya Main Line, overlooking Wakkanai Port, is Hokumon Shrine, the northernmost shrine in Japan with a resident priest. Due to its easy access, it seems that in recent years, many worshippers who collect goshuin (temple stamps) have been visiting the shrine, in addition to locals. Apparently they have some unique fortune slips, so why not take a look? Hokumon Shrine was moved to its current location in 1896. Since then, it has been beloved by local people and has become a source of spiritual support. The first thing you should notice when you enter the shrine grounds are the lion statues. If you look closely at the feet of the lion statue on the left, you will see a small child sitting there. It is said that those who visit Hokumon Shrine will be blessed with children because of this unusual lion dog. The adorable lion dog with a child is also used as a design for amulets for the blessing of children. The origins of Hokumon Shrine date back to when a man named Murayama Denbei saw a crowd of people worshiping the sun on the beach and built a shrine in Soya as a guardian deity for safe voyages and good catches. For this reason, many people in the fishing industry still visit the shrine. Now, after you finish praying, how about getting a fortune slip? A regular fortune slip is fine, but Hokumon Shrine is actually one of the 12 shrines that sell the Hokkaido local fortune slip series "Ezo Mikuji." Ezo Mikuji is a unique fortune written in the Hokkaido dialect with motifs of local specialties. At Hokumon Shrine, you can get the "Ii Kani Ii Mikuji" (400 yen), which is made of papier-mâché crab. The lion dogs are soothing, the Ezo fortune slips bring a smile to your face, and the Hokumon Shrine is a place where your heart feels warm and fuzzy. If you visit Wakkanai, why not stop by? The road leading from the shrine grounds to Wakkanai is also maintained as a promenade, so you can refresh both your body and mind. Hokumon Shrine Address: 1-1-21 Chuo, Wakkanai, Hokkaido Phone: 0162-22-2944