Yakumo Shrine - Hokkaido

Yakumo Shrine (八雲神社) is the main shrine of the town of Yakumo. It is located at 56 Miyazonocho in the town of Yakumo, Futami District in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

八雲神社
Yakumo Shrine

Yakumo Shrine details

Yakumo Shrine is a historical and cultural landmark that draws visitors with its rich history and spiritual importance. Established in 1884 by Tokugawa Yoshikatsu, the former Lord of the Owari Domain, Yakumo Shrine serves as a testament to his vision of creating an ideal town for the settlers of the former Owari Domain. The area was named "Yakumo" by the lord himself, marking the beginning of a significant development project aimed at defending the northern frontier and supporting the families of the Owari clan.

Yakumo Shrine - Yakumo town, Hokkaido Prefecture
Yakumo Shrine - Yakumo town, Hokkaido Prefecture

In 1884, Yakumo Shrine was constructed as a spiritual center for the newly arrived immigrants. Just two years later, in December 1886, it was officially recognized as a village shrine. A special petition was submitted to the Atsuta Shrine, located in Tokugawa Yoshikatsu's hometown, requesting a branch of the deity. 

Yakumo Shrine's torii gate
Yakumo Shrine's torii gate

Yakumo Shrine's torii gate as seen from the shrine
The Torii gate as seen from the shrine

Yakumo Shrine's chozuya
Yakumo Shrine's chozuya

In March 1887, the deity was transferred to Yakumo Shrine, officially establishing it as a branch shrine. Notably, Yakumo Shrine is the only shrine in history to have received official permission to branch off the deity of Atsuta Omikami, a decision made possible by Emperor Meiji himself, who recognized Tokugawa Yoshikatsu’s significant contributions to the formation of the Meiji government.

Yakumo Shrine's Main Hall

Yakumo Shrine's Main Hall

Yakumo Shrine's Main Hall

Yakumo Shrine (Hokkaido)

八雲神社

八雲神社

In the decades that followed, Yakumo Shrine continued to grow in importance. It was promoted to a village shrine in June 1931, and in 1934, Tokugawa Yoshikatsu was enshrined. However, during World War II in 1943, the shrine had to be relocated due to the construction of a military airfield. It was moved to its current location, where it remains today.

There were several wooden ema or prayer boards displayed on the shrine grounds
There were several wooden ema or prayer boards displayed on the shrine grounds

Yakumo Shrine

Aesthetic pond inside Yakumo Shrine grounds
Aesthetic pond inside Yakumo Shrine grounds

Aesthetic pond inside Yakumo Shrine grounds

Aesthetic pond inside Yakumo Shrine grounds

Yakumo Shrine's Loyalty Monument
Yakumo Shrine's Loyalty Monument

There is what looks like a sumo ring next to the main hall
There is what looks like a sumo ring next to the main hall

The shrine underwent major renovations in 1999, which included the construction of the building in the Gongen-zo architectural style. A relocation ceremony was held on December 15th of the same year, ensuring that Yakumo Shrine would continue to stand as a place of reverence and historical significance.

Yakumo Shrine Komainu Statues

Yakumo Shrine Komainu Statues
Yakumo Shrine's komainu statues

Yakumo Shrine's un-gyo
Yakumo Shrine's un-gyo

Yakumo Shrine's a-gyo
Yakumo Shrine's a-gyo

Today, Yakumo Shrine houses a collection of deities, including Atsuta no Sume Okami, Amaterasu Omikami, Susanoo no Mikoto, Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, Miyazuhime no Mikoto, Takeinada no Mikoto, and Tokugawa Yoshikatsu no Mikoto. The shrine serves around 5,000 households in the area, and its role as a spiritual and cultural hub continues to thrive. One of the unique features of Yakumo Shrine is the Matsumae Kagura, also known as the Dance of the Ages, a special ritual performed to honor the shrine’s deities.

Team Nicerio visits Yakumo Shrine

Team Nicerio visits Yakumo Shrine

Team Nicerio visits Yakumo Shrine

Team Nicerio visits Yakumo Shrine


On April 2, 2023, during the second day of our three-day Birthday Road Trip, my family and I visited Yakumo Shrine. This was during my 517th day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. I made it a point to include this shrine in our itinerary as part of our Hokkaido 179 challenge to visit a shrine in every municipality that we visited in the prefecture. During our visit, my daughter and I did our tradition of paying respects by offering prayers. Aside from that, we also made a wish before leaving the shrine grounds.

Yakumo Shrine Admission Fee

It’s FREE to enter and explore Yakumo Shrine grounds.

Yakumo Shrine Operating Hours

Yakumo Shrine grounds are open 24/7.

 

Why visit the Yakumo Shrine?

Yakumo Shrine is not only a place to connect with Japan’s rich spiritual heritage but also a must-visit for those interested in exploring the historical significance of Tokugawa Yoshikatsu's contributions to the development of the Meiji government and the settlement of Hokkaido. Whether you're a history buff, a spiritual seeker, or simply looking to experience the beauty of Hokkaido's sacred sites, Yakumo Shrine offers a profound and enriching experience. Sadly, as of this writing, Yakumo Shrine does not offer goshuin stamps.

Getting to Yakumo Shrine

 

There are ways to get to Yakumo Shrine, and here's the one I'm most familiar with:

From Hakodate Station, take the Local Oshamambe train on the Hakodate Line and get off at Yakumo Station. From there, you can either take a taxi or walk to Yakumo Shrine, which is approximately 1.7 kilometers away.

Travel time: 2 hours and 12 minutes

Fare: 1890 yen


Ratings

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating


Comments

Please Follow our Official FB Page

Please FOLLOW our Facebook Page

Book your hotel thru KLOOK

Klook.com
Subscribe and get updated with the latest travel articles of The Backpack Adventures

Popular posts from this blog

Patungan Beach - Cavite

Kyoto Station - Kyoto

Ilocos Sur Adventure: Vigan City

Toji - Kyoto

First Timer's Guide to Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass

Kyoto's Edo-style Starbucks - Kyoto

Daraga Church - Albay

Learning Kanji - Numbers

Cagsawa Ruins Revisited 2019 - Albay

Eiraku Yumenomori Park - Osaka