Located in Tomakomai City, Tarumae-san Shrine is a familiar place for locals, who visit for life's milestones like New Year's prayers, safe childbirth wishes, and Shichi-Go-San celebrations for children. Its origins trace back to the Meiji era, and it has long been a spiritual anchor for the community. Let's explore the charms of this venerable Tarumae-san Shrine.

In 1875 (Meiji 8), by imperial decree of Emperor Meiji, the three deities Oyamatsumi-no-kami, Kukunochi-no-kami, and Kayano-hime-no-kami were enshrined. They were moved from the foot of the mountain to the center of the town, establishing Tarumae-san Shrine as the guardian shrine of the region. Later, in 1936, it was promoted to the rank of a prefectural shrine (a former classification), becoming one of Hokkaido's most distinguished shrines.
A small shrine dedicated to Ukanomitama-no-kami of the Inari faith was moved along with the main deities and can still be seen on the grounds today. This deity is said to govern food, clothing, and shelter, and bring blessings for business prosperity. The grounds also feature several other shrines, including the Tenman Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, whose spirit was divided from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in 1986, and the Shotoku Shrine, dedicated to Prince Shotoku, which was relocated here in 1996. Visitors come to pray according to their specific wishes. You'll also find some more unusual and endearing figures like "Hotei-san" (the Laughing Buddha) and "Kaeru-san" (Mr. Frog), which bring a sense of comfort to visitors.
Now, let's talk about the Ezo-mikuji available at Tarumae-san Shrine. Ezo-mikuji is a series of local fortune slips that started in 2016, with various shrines across Hokkaido creating unique fortunes themed after their local specialties. The one you can get at Tarumae-san Shrine is modeled after a surf clam and is cleverly named "Kaiun Ichinen Hokki" (A Shell of a Resolution for Better Fortune).
In fact, Tomakomai boasts the largest catch of surf clams in Japan. The Ezo-mikuji, which also offers this fun fact, is popular, especially among tourists. Another enjoyable feature is that the fortunes are written in the Hokkaido dialect. Once you get one, you might be tempted to travel around Hokkaido to collect them all.
Tarumae-san Shrine also hosts various seasonal events, including the Annual Grand Festival in July. It's just a 5-minute drive from JR Tomakomai Station, so why not stop by when you're visiting Tomakomai for sightseeing?

The spacious grounds have a calming atmosphere that will soothe your soul just by walking through them.


＜Special Thanks＞
Tarumae-san Shrine
Location: Takaoka 6-49, Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Phone: 0144-36-6661
Official Website: https://www.tarumaesanjinja.net