Tokachi Gokoku Shrine (十勝護國神社) is one of the important shrines in Obihiro City. It
is located at 1-1 Higashi 4-jo Minami 2-chome, Obihiro City in Hokkaido
Prefecture, Japan.
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine |
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine Details
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine in Obihiro City is a place that
carries both history and remembrance. It is one of those quiet spots where you
feel the weight of the past while also experiencing the calm of a traditional
Shinto shrine.
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine - Obihiro City, Hokkaido Prefecture |
The beginning of the shrine goes back to November 3, 1906,
shortly after the Russo-Japanese War. On that day, which was then celebrated as
Tencho-setsu, a divination and a memorial service for nine fallen soldiers,
including Yago Kiichiro, were held. This marked the start of what would become
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine.
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's main torii gate |
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| 十勝護國神社 |
Relocation and Post-War History
In April 1913, the shrine was moved to its present location,
taking over the former temporary hall of Obihiro Shrine, and it was called
Obihiro Shokonsha. Over the years, it became a central place for remembrance.
In 1936, the Shokonsha Ceremony Support Association was formed, and the
Shokonsha Ceremony became an important event in the city. On that day, citizens
would raise the national flag, and the ceremony itself was treated as a local
holiday until the end of the war.
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's Main Hall
After the war, the shrine went through changes. In 1946, it
was renamed Obihiro Gokoku Shrine. A year later, in 1947, it was called Obihiro
Heiwa Shrine, and its annual festival was held on July 15. The present shrine
building was completed in 1958. In April 1964, it was officially renamed
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine, and the festival day was moved to July 25 to include not
only those from Obihiro but also the war dead and peace contributors from the
entire Tokachi region.
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine Grounds
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| Loyalty Monument |
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| Kitchen Knife Mound |
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| Monument Commemorating the Promotion of the Local Shrine |
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| The gazebo in the park between Obihiro Shrine and Tokachi Gokoku Shrine |
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| Monuments to the war dead and those who died in battle |
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's chozuya |
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's chozubachi |
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| Nakagusuku Fumiko's First Poetry Monument |
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine at Present
The shrine celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1980, and the
shrine office was renovated in 1999. Today, it enshrines 1,208 souls from
Obihiro and the wider Tokachi area.
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's komainu pair
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's komainu pair |
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's un-gyo |
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| Tokachi Gokoku Shrine's a-gyo |
Team Nicerio visits Tokachi Gokoku Shrine
My family and I visited Tokachi Gokoku Shrine for the
first time on November 3, 2023, the opening day of our three-day
Culture Day Road Trip. This marked my 732nd day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. As part of our Hokkaido 179 travel goal, we made
it a point to visit the main shrine of every municipality we explored for the
first time. During our visit, we offered prayers and paid our respects, taking
a moment to connect with the local culture and spiritual traditions. It was the last shrine that we visited for
the day.
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine Admission Fee
It’s FREE to enter and explore Tokachi Gokoku Shrine
grounds. However, it is highly recommended that you bring cash if you want to
avail of the shrine’s goshuin.
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine’s Operating Hours
Tokachi Gokoku Shrine grounds are open 24/7.
Why visit Tokachi Gokoku Shrine?
For travelers, the shrine is easy to visit while exploring
Obihiro, as it can be paired with the nearby Obihiro Shrine. July 25 is the best
time to see it during the annual festival, but even on a regular day, it offers
a quiet moment of reflection.
Getting to Tokachi Gokoku Shrine
There are several ways to reach Tokachi Gokoku Shrine from Obihiro Station. These are what I'm familiar with:
Option 1: From Obihiro Station, proceed to the Ekikita 11-chome bus stop. Take Bus #11 (Obihiro–Rikubetsu Line) bound for Makubetsu, Ikeda, or Rikubetsu via Honbetsu and Ashoro operated by the Tokachi Bus Company. Alight at the Higashi 4-jo 6-chome bus stop, then walk approximately 450 meters to reach Tokachi Gokoku Shrine.
Travel time: 15 minutes
Fare: 220 yen
Option 2: From Obihiro Station, proceed to the Ekikita 11-chome bus stop. Board Bus #41 (Otofuke Line) bound for Otofuke or Sakuragaoka via Kino Agricultural Cooperative, Yanagimachi Housing Complex, and Otofuke Town Hall, operated by the Tokachi Bus Company. Alight at the Nishi 2-jo 1-chome bus stop, then walk approximately 700 meters to reach Tokachi Gokoku Shrine.
Travel time: 18 minutes
Fare: 180 yen
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