Hokumon Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Hokumon Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Wakkanai built in the traditional Shinmei-zukuri style with simple lines and a dark wooden roof. The complex includes a clean courtyard, a main prayer hall, and stone gates at the entrance, surrounded by trees with views toward the city port.
The shrine was founded in 1785 by a trader named Murayama Denbei and later renamed Hokumon Jinja after being moved to its current location in 1896. Following a devastating fire in 1911, the complex was rebuilt by 1913 and has maintained its traditional form since then.
Hokumon Shrine serves as a spiritual gathering place where fishermen and sailors traditionally pray for safe voyages. The practice of making offerings and prayers continues today, connecting visitors to the fishing community's deep relationship with the sea.
The shrine is located near Wakkanai city center and is easily reached on foot from the train station. Visitors should rinse their hands and mouth at the water basin before praying and can purchase small wooden plaques to write and hang their wishes.
The shrine sells local fortune slips called 'Ezo Mikuji' written in the Hokkaido dialect and featuring local motifs such as crabs. A popular version is the 'Ii Kani Ii Mikuji,' a papier-mache crab figure that visitors enjoy purchasing as a charming souvenir from their visit.
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