Visiting Hokkaido Shrine Tongu: A Place to Pray for Love and Blessings
Located in Sapporo, Hokkaido Shrine Tongu is a hidden gem known for its spiritual significance, especially for those seeking love and blessings. It is believed that visiting Tongu-san can help your love come true, making it a must-visit for couples and those hoping for a happy marriage. If you’re traveling to Sapporo, this serene shrine offers a peaceful escape, rich in history and traditions.
What to Expect at Hokkaido Shrine Tongu
1. Shrine Pavilion – A Sacred Space for Prayers
The heart of Hokkaido Shrine Tongu is its beautiful shrine pavilion, where visitors come to offer prayers and seek blessings. The traditional wooden architecture, adorned with sacred ornaments, creates a calming atmosphere perfect for quiet reflection.
Hokkaido Shrint Tongu, Shrine Pavillion
Image: Marina Wee
2. Purification Fountain (Te Sui Sha) – Cleansing Before Prayer
Before stepping into the sacred grounds, visitors must cleanse their hands and mouth at the purification fountain (Te Sui Sha). This ritual symbolizes purifying the body and mind before approaching the shrine for prayer. Follow the proper steps: scoop water with a ladle, rinse your left and right hands, and finally, rinse your mouth before spitting the water outside the basin.
Purification Fountain (Te Sui Sha)
Image: Marina Wee
3. How to Pray – Steps to Make a Wish
Near the main shrine, you’ll find instructions on how to pray properly. The traditional Japanese way of praying at a Shinto shrine involves tossing a coin into the offering box, bowing twice, clapping twice, making a wish, and bowing once more in gratitude. Take your time to reflect and make a heartfelt wish for love, happiness, or success.
Instructions for praying at Hokkaido Shrine Tongu
Image: Marina Wee
4. Guardian Dogs (Komainu) – Protectors of the Shrine
Standing guard at the shrine entrance and near the main building are the Komainu, or guardian lion-dogs. These statues are believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the shrine’s sacred energy. One Komainu has its mouth open, symbolizing the beginning, while the other has its mouth closed, symbolizing the end, representing the cycle of life and protection.
Guardian Dog in front of the Shrine Pavillion
Image: Marina Wee
5. Omikuji Fortune – Find Out Your Luck
One of the most exciting parts of visiting a shrine in Japan is drawing an Omikuji fortune. For a small fee (100 yen), you can receive a paper slip that reveals your fortune in various aspects of life, including love, career, and health. If you receive a good fortune, keep it with you; if it’s a bad fortune, tie it to the designated racks at the shrine to leave the misfortune behind.
Omikuji Fortune to predict your luck and fortune
Image: Marina Wee
6. Hanging Well Wishes & Tying Omikuji
At Hokkaido Shrine Tongu, visitors can also write their wishes on wooden plaques (Ema) and hang them near the shrine. Many of these wishes revolve around love, relationships, and happy marriages. Tying Omikuji fortunes is also a common practice, as people leave their wishes in the hopes that the shrine’s deities will bless them.
Well Wishes & Tying Omikuji
Image: Marina Wee
7. Komainu at the Entrance Gate
As you leave the shrine, you’ll notice another pair of Komainu guardian dogs at the entrance gate. These statues serve as a final blessing, ensuring that all visitors who enter and exit the shrine carry positive energy with them.
Another Guardian Dog in front of the main gate
Image: Marina Wee
Why Visit Hokkaido Shrine Tongu?
A Spiritual Spot for Love & Relationships: If you’re hoping for love or a happy marriage, this shrine is believed to bring blessings.
Peaceful & Less Crowded: Unlike the main Hokkaido Shrine, Tongu offers a quieter, more intimate experience.
Cultural Experience: Learn about Japanese shrine traditions, purification rituals, and fortune-telling.
Beautiful Architecture & Atmosphere: Perfect for a relaxing visit and stunning photos.
Tips for Your Visit
Arrive early in the morning for a peaceful atmosphere.
About 15-20 minutes walk from Odori Park, Sapporo.
Follow the purification steps before praying.
Try an Omikuji for fun and insight into your fortune.
Take time to appreciate the guardian Komainu statues and their symbolism.
Respect the shrine’s traditions and maintain a quiet, reverent attitude.
Visiting Hokkaido Shrine Tongu is a meaningful experience, whether you're seeking love, peace, or simply a quiet retreat in the heart of Sapporo. If you’re in Hokkaido, don’t miss this hidden sanctuary where wishes and blessings come to life
