Tarumaeyama Shrine in Tomakomai City is a familiar shrine that locals visit at important times in their lives, such as the New Year's visit, prayers for safe childbirth, and Shichigosan. Its origins date back to the Meiji period and it has become a place of spiritual support for the people. Let's take a closer look at the charms of this historic Tarumaeyama Shrine. In 1875, Emperor Meiji ordered the deity Oyamatsumi no Kami, Kukunochi no Kami, and Kayanohime no Kami to be enshrined, and the deity was returned from the foot of the mountain to the center of town and enshrined as the local guardian deity, marking the beginning of Tarumaeyama Shrine. Later, in 1936, it was promoted to a prefectural shrine (old shrine status) and became one of the most famous shrines in Hokkaido. When the shrine was returned to the deity, a small shrine called "Inari Shrine Uka no Mitama no Kami" was moved along with it, and it can still be seen within the grounds. It is said to be in charge of food, clothing, and shelter, and to bring blessings such as prosperity in business. There are also many other shrines within the grounds, such as "Tenmangu Shrine Sugawara no Michizane," which was separated from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in 1986, and "Shotoku Shrine Prince Shotoku," which was relocated in 1996, and visitors come to worship according to their purpose. There are also some unusual and friendly shrines to "Hotei-san" and "Kaeru-san," which soothe the hearts of visitors. Well, here at Tarumaeyama Shrine, they also sell Ezo Mikuji. Ezo Mikuji is a local fortune series that was launched in 2016, and is a unique fortune that shrines all over Hokkaido use as a motif local specialties. The one you can buy at Tarumaeyama Shrine is called "Kaiun Ichinen Hatsuoki" (Shellfish Luck). In fact, Tomakomai boasts the highest amount of surf clam landings in Japan. The Ezo Mikuji, which also gives you trivia about the area, is popular among tourists. Another fun thing about it is that it is written in Hokkaido dialect. If you get one in one place, you might want to travel around the prefecture and collect all of them. Tarumaeyama Shrine also holds a variety of seasonal events, including its annual festival in July. It is about a five-minute drive from JR Tomakomai Station, so why not stop by when you are in Tomakomai for sightseeing? Just walking around the spacious grounds will make you feel calm. <Interview cooperation> Tarumaeyama Shrine Address: 6-49 Takaoka, Tomakomai City, Hokkaido Phone: 0144-36-6661 Official site: https://www.tarumaesanjinja.net