The , named the until 1964, is a Shinto shrine located in Sapporo, Hokkaido,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. Sited in Maruyama Park, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Shrine enshrines four '' kami'' including the soul of the

Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...

. A number of early explorers of Hokkaidō such as Mamiya Rinzō are also enshrined.

History

In 1869, by an order of the Emperor Meiji, a ceremony to enshrine three kami (Shinto deities); Ōkunitama, Ōkuninushi, and Sukunahikona, was held in Tokyo. They were enshrined as the , and they were later moved to Sapporo by officers in the Kaitakushi, the previous government of Hokkaidō prefecture.Hokkaido Jinga, History of the Hokkaido Jingu and kami
An interim building of the shrine for three kami was constructed in 1870 in Sapporo, although its location was different from the current point where the Hokkaidō Shrine stands. In 1871, the shrine was erected in its current place and named "Sapporo Shrine" (Sapporo Jinja), and on September 14 an inaugural ceremony was held. In 1946, ''Sapporo-jinja'' was renamed the "Hokkaidō Shrine" (Hokkaidō Jingū) and officially upgraded to one of the , meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The soul of Emperor Meiji was also newly enshrined there in 1964. The building was destroyed by a fire in 1974, but was later restored in 1978.

Overview

The area of the Hokkaido Shrine is 180,000 m², and is adjacent to Maruyama Park. During the season which

cherry blossom A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...

s in the area bloom, the shrine is crowded with people enjoying Hanami. Many people also visit the shrine during Japanese New Year to go Hatsumōde. From June 14 to 16 in every year, the Main festival of Hokkaido Shrine, also called "Sapporo Festival" (Sapporo Matsuri), is held, and the line of people bearing Mikoshi parades down the street which leads to the shrine. It also manages

Scouting Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...

activities.1st Boyscouting in Sapporo

Notes

References

* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962)
''Studies in Shinto and Shrines.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 399449
* _______________. (1963)
''The Viciissitudes of Shinto.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
OCLC 186605327

External links

Hokkaido Jingu (Hokkaido Shrine) Web Site

Hokkaido Jingu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hokkaido Shrine Kanpei-taisha Jingū Religious buildings and structures completed in 1871 Religious buildings and structures completed in 1978 Chūō-ku, Sapporo Shinto shrines in Hokkaido 1869 establishments in Japan Religious organizations established in 1869 Buildings and structures in Sapporo Tourist attractions in Sapporo Beppyo shrines

History

Overview

See also

Notes

References

External links