Kamishihoro Shrine (上士幌神社)
is the main shrine of the town of Kamishihoro. It is located at 243-9
Kamishihoro East 4th Line in the town of Kamishihoro, Kato District in Hokkaido
Prefecture, Japan.
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| Kamishihoro Shrine |
Kamishihoro Shrine Details
Kamishihoro Shrine is a symbol of faith, history, and
community spirit. Its story begins in 1907, when Yasumura Jitakamaru, a
pioneer of the town, moved to the area with over ten tenant farming families.
In February 1913, he sent one of his tenant farmers, Takagi Taisuke, to
his hometown in Hayaboshi Village, Toyama Prefecture, to enshrine a
branch of the deity from Hayaboshi Shrine, known as Ihyakutsutsu
Iwaseki-no-Kami. This marks the official founding of Kamishihoro Shrine.
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| Kamishihoro Shrine - Kamishihoro town, Hokkaido Prefecture |
At the time, travel was arduous. Takagi carried the sacred
spirit across mountains and seas to Kamishihoro, strapping it to his back and
dedicating himself day and night to protect the deity.
Early Development of the Shrine
The first shrine building was constructed in 1935. It
received official recognition as an unranked shrine on May 15, 1937, and was
later promoted to a village shrine on September 3, 1942. On March 27, 1952,
Kamishihoro Shrine was certified as a corporation under the Religious
Corporation Act.
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's torii gate |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's chozuya |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's chozubachi |
By the late 1970s, the original building had become severely
dilapidated. A decision was made in 1977 to rebuild the shrine, and the current
shrine building, designed in the Shinmei-zukuri style, was completed
in December 1979.
Kamishihoro Shrine Main Hall
Renovations and Expansions
As part of the shrine’s 80th anniversary in 1993, the
approach to Kamishihoro Shrine was renovated. A new portable shrine hall, gift shop,
and garage were added at a total cost of 36 million yen. Later, the shrine
office, which had been built in 1954, was also updated. A renovation support
group was formed in 1997, and after extensive planning and construction
totaling 100 million yen, the 566 m² shrine office was completed on
August 31, 2000. It continues to serve the community to this day.
Kamishihoro Shrine grounds
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| 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Kamishihoro Shrine |
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| Steps going to the main hall of the shrine |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's torii gate as seen from the main hall area |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's hot air balloon-shaped ema |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's mikoshi house |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's Loyalty Soul Monument |
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| Takadai Park |
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| Statue of Yasumura Jitakamaru |
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| Pioneer Monument |
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| Watching the sunset from Kamishihoro Shrine |
Enshrined Deities and Community Role
Kamishihoro Shrine is home to several deities, including Okunitama-no-Kami,
Onamuchi-no-Kami, Sukunahiko-no-Kami, and Iozutsuiwamura-no-Kami. It
currently serves around 1,500 households, providing not only a place of worship
but also a cultural hub that reflects the devotion and perseverance of
Kamishihoro’s early settlers.
Kamishihoro Shrine's komainu pair
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's komainu pair |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's a-gyo |
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| Kamishihoro Shrine's un-gyo |
Team Nicerio visits Kamishihoro Shrine
My family and I visited Kamishihoro Shrine for the
first time on November 5, 2023, the third day of our three-day Culture
Day Road Trip. This visit also marked my 734th day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. As part of our Hokkaido 179 travel goal, we
make it a point to visit a main shrine in each municipality we explore for the
first time to pay our respects and offer prayers. Kamishihoro Shrine was the last
shrine that we visited in our itinerary.
Kamishihoro Shrine Admission Fee
It’s FREE to enter and explore Kamishihoro Shrine. However,
if you collect goshuin, make sure to bring cash.
Kamishihoro Shrine Operating Hours
Kamishihoro Shrine grounds are open 24/7. The shrine office, on the other hand, is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Why visit Kamishihoro Shrine?
Kamishihoro Shrine offers visitors the chance to stroll
through its peaceful grounds at no cost, admire the elegant Shinmei-zukuri
architecture, and delve into the rich history of Kamishihoro Town. It is a
perfect spot for reflection, prayer, and immersing yourself in local culture,
making it a must-visit destination for travelers exploring Hokkaido. For those
who collect goshuin, the shrine also provides its own unique stamp as a
keepsake.
Getting to Kamishihoro Shrine
From Obihiro Station, head out and go to Platform 6 of the Obihiro-eki Bus Terminal. Once there, board Bus #51 Nukubira Line - Kamishihoro / Nukabira Gensenkyo (via Otofuke, Kino, and Shihoro) operated by the Tokachi Bus.
Get off at Kamishihoro bus stop. Once there, walk for about 1.1 kilometers to Kamishihoro Shrine.
Travel time: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Fare: 970 yen
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