Hokkaido Shrine

Hokkaido Shrine, set within the wooded expanse of Maruyama Park in Sapporo, is the most important Shinto shrine on the island. Established in the nineteenth century as Japanese settlement of Hokkaido expanded, it enshrines deities of pioneering along with the spirit of the Meiji Emperor. Its grounds are planted with cherry and plum trees that bloom together in a late northern spring, drawing crowds for hanami. The shrine is a major site for New Year prayers and for ceremonies marking milestones in local life, from weddings to blessings.