If you ask a local, "What's the most famous shrine in Otaru?" the answer will almost certainly be "Sumiyoshi Shrine." For centuries, Sumiyoshi Shrine has been revered as the guardian shrine of Otaru, believed to grant various blessings. Let's check out its highlights. It seems they even have the famous "Ezo-mikuji" fortune slips!

Sumiyoshi Shrine has a long history, beginning in the first year of the Genji era (1864) when the head priest of Hakodate Hachimangu Shrine applied for and was granted permission to enshrine the Sumiyoshi Okami (the great gods of Sumiyoshi) as the guardian deities of the Otarunai and Takashima areas. The sacred object of the deity arrived in Otarunai in the first year of the Meiji era (1868), and the shrine was relocated to its current location in the 32nd year of the Meiji era (1899).
The enshrined deities are the three Sumiyoshi deities—Sokotsutsuo-no-kami, Nakatsutsuo-no-kami, and Uwatsutsuo-no-kami—as well as Okinagatarashihime-no-mikoto.
Located along National Route 5, Sumiyoshi Shrine is designed with a straight path leading from the first torii gate to the main shrine hall in the back. You just keep walking straight, passing through several torii gates!
Along the way, to the left of the shrine office, you'll find a row of a thousand torii gates (Senbon Torii). Their vivid vermilion color is strikingly beautiful, and it's a popular spot for taking photos.
Further in, you'll find the "Kodakara-inu" (Child-blessing Dog) and the "Setake-ishi" (Height-measuring Stone). For the Kodakara-inu, it is said that you can pray for a safe childbirth and fertility by first stroking the head of the parent dog, then the stone of your Chinese zodiac sign, and finally the head of the puppy. The Setake-ishi, on the other hand, is for praying for a child's healthy growth by measuring their height against it.
In addition, Sumiyoshi Shrine offers various blessings such as maritime safety, traffic safety, and business prosperity. It's surely a shrine that locals naturally visit at various milestones in their lives.
Now, after paying your respects, let's draw an omikuji (paper fortune). Sumiyoshi Shrine has "Ezo-mikuji," the local fortune slips offered by shrines throughout Hokkaido. These are unique fortunes themed after the local specialty of each area. So, what's the one here at Sumiyoshi Shrine!?
It was the "Nisshin Geppo" (Steady Progress) fortune, themed after herring (nishin)! This exquisite pun and the fact that it's written in the Hokkaido dialect are part of the fun of Ezo-mikuji. After successfully drawing my fortune, I turned to leave and...
I could see the straight path of the shrine grounds leading up to the main hall, and beyond it, a view of the sea. Combined with the refreshing feeling after praying, witnessing this sight felt strangely purifying for the soul.

Sumiyoshi Shrine offers a wonderful experience right up to the moment you leave. We highly recommend adding it to your Otaru sightseeing plans.

＜Otaru Sochinju Sumiyoshi Jinja＞
Location: 2-5-1 Suminoe, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido
Phone: 0134-23-0785
Official Website: http://www.otarusumiyoshijinja.or.jp/