Hokkaido Shrine
The Hokkaido Shrine is located in the Maruyama Park of Sapporo. We had to walk a distance to get to the shrine. It is so well situated; quiet, serene, away from the noise of traffic.
Little children dressed in traditional kimono or their Sunday best were there with their parents to pray for family and good health.
Visitors are encouraged to purify themselves with Holy Water before entering the Shrine.
There will be lots of people getting Omikuji (fortune written on a slip of paper). Who doesn't want to know about their future? Hopefully, the prediction is favourable and all is well. Pay a small fee and pick your fortune strip from a box. I didn't like mine at all and I was certainly not alone judging from the overcrowded racks. Since Lady Fortune was not smiling on me, I had to tie the fortune strip to the nearby rack. If your fortune is good, you can still tie the strip to the rack or just keep it in your wallet for the whole year.
Bronze statue of Yoshitake Shima, one of the founding fathers of Hokkaido and deeply involved in the establishment of this Shrine.
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I always think of Japanese shrines as people's place for refuge and peace amidst all the bustle of the city life. And visiting some is one great way to have a glimpse of Japan's culture.
Thanks for sharing your experience, @msooi!
The force is with you! You got a 17.68% upvote from @steemyoda courtesy of @steemyoda!
Wow, this shrine looks different from the ones I have visited in Japan. Doesn't this one have the red torii (gate)?
Japan is such a beautiful country and the people so courteous. I do not recall seeing a red gate at the shrine.
Pray for me, to be there next year, cc @kevinwong