Shibetsu Shrine - Hokkaido

Shibetsu Shrine (士別神社) is the main shrine of the city of Shibetsu. It is located at 1 Chome Higashi 8 Jokita, Shibetsu City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Shibetsu Shrine

Shibetsu Shrine Details

Shibetsu Shrine, located in the beautiful city of Shibetsu, Hokkaido, holds great historical and cultural significance for the region. Established on July 15, 1903, the shrine was originally founded by the 5th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Tonden Hei as Shibetsu Kaiki. The day of its founding has since been designated as a regular festival day.

Shibetsu Shrine - Shibetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture

The shrine's humble beginnings can be traced back to the discussions held by the soldiers and their commander, Gengoro Nagoshi, about building a shrine upon the independence of Shibetsu Village in 1901. With the support of the villagers, they erected a pioneer commemorative marker on the parade ground and dedicated the shrine to Amaterasu Omikami, the Shinto sun goddess. The enlistment ceremony was held on the same day, marking the official founding of Shibetsu Shrine.

Shibetsu Shrine's torii gate

士別神社

Shibetsu Shrine's chozuya

A significant development occurred in the 4th year of the Taisho era when the Shibetsu town system was enacted. This led to preparations for establishing an official shrine, and in the following year, the land for the shrine was generously donated by Heimura. The application for "founding" was filed in 1970, and approval was granted the following year, with the company being ranked as a village company.

Shibetsu Shrine Main Hall

Construction work on the main hall of the Shibetsu Shrine began in 1923 and was completed in 1925. A relocation ceremony was held to mark this important milestone. In 1930, the shrine celebrated its 30th anniversary by embarking on further construction endeavors. With the wholehearted support of the townspeople, the construction was completed on July 14, 1930, resulting in the creation of a magnificent shrine that is considered to be one of the finest in northern Hokkaido.

Monuments and mini-shrines in Shibetsu Shrine grounds

“Internal and external cleanliness” monument

Shibetsu Shrine's 90th Anniversary Monument

Loyalty Monument

Earth God Monument

Teshio River Poetry Monument

Shibetsu Shrine ground map

Furumine Ryuo Shrine (古峯龍尾神社)

Several significant events took place in the subsequent years. In 1937, Higashiyama Shrine (Mugansha) was merged and its deity enshrined within the premises of Shibetsu Shrine. Then, in 1945, in commemoration of the 2,600th anniversary of its founding, Shibetsu Shrine applied for promotion to Gosha, and it was granted the following year.

Shibetsu Shrine komainu

As Japan went through post-war reforms, the shrine system was restructured, and in 1945, Shibetsu Shrine became a corporation under the jurisdiction of the Shrine Head Office. Since 1960, the shrine has held ceremonies every ten years to honor its history and heritage. In 1999, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, the shrine underwent extensive renovation and expansion. The construction of a new shrine office, Sanshuden, which covers an area of 526 tsubo (1,734 square meters) and is the largest in northern Hokkaido, was completed with generous donations totaling over 330 million yen. In addition, an archery hall was relocated. The commemorative work was finalized with a dedication ceremony.

In 2009, further renovations and restoration projects were undertaken, thanks to the support of generous donors. The shrine continues to hold great importance in the hearts of the people, as it is widely revered as the guardian deity of Shibetsu City and the protector of peace and happiness. At present, Shibetsu Shrine enshrines two principal deities: Amaterasu-no-Okami (Amaterasu-sume-Okami) and Soma-no-Okami. These deities are deeply respected and revered by the people of Shibetsu and continue to play an integral role in the spiritual and cultural identity of the region.

Team Nicerio visits Shibetsu Shrine

My family and I visited Shibetsu Shrine for the first time last September 25, 2022, the last day of our September 24-25 Road Trip. It was my 328th day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. It was included in our itinerary as we have a family tradition of visiting the main shrine of the city, town, or village that we have visited for the first time. During our visit, we paid respects and offered some prayers. Before leaving we made some wishes which was also part of our family tradition.

Shibetsu Shrine Fees

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

Shibetsu Shrine Operating Hours

Shibetsu Shrine grounds are open 24/7. However, the shrine office is open from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Why visit Shibetsu Shrine?

This is a place to visit if you are looking for a place to offer a prayer or pay respects in the city of Shibetsu. You can also get a goshuin here. 

Aside from that, Shibetsu Shrine stands as a testament to the rich history and traditions of Shibetsu City, serving as a place of worship, celebration, and cultural preservation for generations to come. 

Getting to Shibetsu Shrine

 

Starting at Asahikawa Station, ride the Soya Line going to Wakkanai and board down at Shibetsu Station. From there, walk for about 2.2 kilometers going to Shibetsu Shrine. 

Travel time: 1 hour and 39 minutes

Fare: 1,290  yen 

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