Hokkaido Jingu is the main shrine of Hokkaido, which is crowded for cherry blossom viewing and New Year's visits.

Hokkaido Jingu began in 1869, when Emperor Meiji issued a decree to enshrine the "three pioneer deities" in Hokkaido to "provide a place of spiritual comfort for the pioneers". At the time, Yoshitake Shima, a pioneer magistrate who began designing the city of Sapporo, decided to build the shrine in Maruyama, which was surrounded by mountains on three sides and open to the plains on the other. The presence of a facility dedicated to a deity in Shintoism provided spiritual support for the pioneers as they faced the hardships of clearing away the virgin forest and became a place where people could gather and talk together.

In 1964, Emperor Meiji was enshrined at the shrine with the approval of Emperor Showa, and the shrine now enshrines four deities. The guardian deities watch over the development of Hokkaido and the happiness of its people, and are still deeply involved in the lives of Hokkaido residents, starting with the first visit to the shrine on New Year's Day, and continuing with exorcisms, seasonal festivals, wedding ceremonies, and other events. The shrine grounds are rich in nature and wild Ezo squirrels show their faces. In spring, cherry and plum blossoms bloom at the same time, attracting many cherry blossom-viewing visitors.

In spring, visitors can enjoy approximately 1,400 cherry trees and 250 plum trees. The cherry trees on the grounds of the shrine were originally planted in 1875 as a memorial to the memory of Yoshiyou Shima, the founder of Hokkaido, and since around 1900, the shrine has become a popular hanami spot for Sapporo citizens. During the Golden Week holidays, the area is crowded with many people and food stalls. The cherry and plum blossoms bloom at about the same time, creating a spectacular sight.