Okoppe Shrine - Hokkaido

Okoppe Shrine (興部神社) is the main shrine of the town of Okoppe. It is located at 1064 Okoppe town in Mombetsu District, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Okoppe Shrine

Okoppe Shrine Details

Okoppe Shrine is a revered Shinto site with deep historical roots and cultural significance. Since its founding in September 1899, this sacred place has stood as a spiritual cornerstone for the local community, evolving alongside the town itself.

Okoppe Shrine - Okoppe town, Hokkaido Prefecture

A Rich History Rooted in Community Spirit

The origins of the Okoppe Shrine date back to the earliest days of the town’s development. Led by Sakai Tsuneemon, head of a migration group from Toyama Prefecture, the town’s first settlers united to build a small shrine in the Okoppeharano (Kitako) area. It was here that Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and one of Shinto's most revered deities, was first enshrined.

Okoppe Shrine's torii gate

As the town grew, so did the shrine. During the early Taisho era, a new structure was built on a hill near today’s civil engineering office in Midorigaoka, serving as a spiritual gathering place for four years.

Okoppe Shrine grounds

In 1915, the shrine was relocated under the overpass along the Saiwai-cho National Highway, and then once more in 1919 to its present site in Miyagaoka, Miyashita-cho. A major milestone came in 1930, when a new shrine building was erected, complete with a newly constructed approach that connected the mountainside to the city side. That same year, a branch of the Sapporo Shrine was enshrined within its grounds, further solidifying its sacred status.

The shrine's chozuya

The shrine's chozubachi

Official Recognition and Renovation

In 1935, under the leadership of Yoneda Senmatsu and 204 parishioners, an application was submitted—and approved—to officially establish Kamijinja Shrine within the Okoppe Shrine grounds.

Okoppe Shrine's Main Hall

A significant chapter in the shrine’s story came in 1939, when it was chosen for renovation as part of Japan’s nationwide 2,600th anniversary of the founding of the nation. The renovation, led by Hirayama Kyuzo of Asahikawa City, cost 18,000 yen and was completed on October 9, 1940. Just weeks earlier, in September 1940, the Okoppe Shrine was formally designated as a village shrine, and by October, it was elevated to the status of a shrine eligible to receive sacred offerings.

Okoppe Shrine Grounds

Okoppe Shrine's Loyalty Monument

Okoppe Shrine's Komainu Pair

Okoppe Shrine's a-gyo

Okoppe Shrine's un-gyo

The Deities of Okoppe Shrine

Today, Okoppe Shrine enshrines the revered deities Okunitama-no-Okami, Oonamuchi-no-Okami, and Sukunahikona-no-Okami—all associated with the protection of land, people, and health. The shrine continues to serve as a spiritual hub for the town’s residents, currently supporting a community of approximately 1,000 households.

Team Nicerio visits Okoppe Shrine

On July 16, 2023, my daughter and I visited Okoppe Shrine for the first time during the second day of our Father and Daughter Road Trip # 5. It also coincided with my 622nd day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. As part of our Hokkaido 179 travel goals, my family and I made sure to visit at least one of the main shrines of the municipality that we visited. During our visit, we offered prayers and paid respects to the deities of the shrine, and as part of our family tradition, we would make 3 wishes before leaving the shrine.

 

Okoppe Shrine Admission Fee

It’s FREE to enter and explore the Okoppe Shrine grounds.

Okoppe Shrine Operating Hours

Okoppe Shrine grounds are open 24/7. However, it is highly recommended that you visit in the morning as the place is not well-lit at night.

 

Why visit Okoppe Shrine?

Okoppe Shrine provides a quiet, meaningful experience and a deeper connection to the local community, making it a worthwhile stop for those exploring northern Japan. If you’re collecting goshuin stamps, you can get a pre-made goshuin in Okoppe Shrine, but it’s not always available. If you prefer the goshuin to be written by a monk on your goshuin-cho, you can avail yourself of the goshuin of Okoppe Shrine from Omu Shrine.

 

Getting to Okoppe Shrine

From Nayoro Station, board the Okoppe Sen bus of the Meishi Bus Company. Board down at the Okoppe bus stop. From there, walk for about 1.5 kilometers to Okoppe Shrine.

Travel time: 1 hour and 55 minutes

Fare: 1,790 yen

You can use this Meishi Bus timetable for your visit: 

To Okoppe from Nayoro - LINK

To Nayoro from Okoppe - LINK

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