Honjin tanuki-daimyōjinsha, Shinto shrine in Japan
Honjin tanuki-daimyōjinsha is a small shrine installed in the fifth block of the Tanukikoji shopping arcade in Chuo-ku, Sapporo. It enshrines a tanuki jizō called Honjin tanuki-daimyōjin, with a water-sprinkling tanuki jizō on the right, a small purification basin with a ladle, a bell rope, and a boxed fortune-slip draw on the left. The shrine is managed by the Tanukikoji shopping street promotion association.
The shrine was founded in 1973, when the 20th Tanuki Festival coincided with the 100th anniversary of Tanukikoji. It was first set up in Tanukikoji 4-chome and later moved to its present spot in 5-chome. Its two main deities, Honjin Tanuki Daimyōjin and his wife Kazusa Gozen, were married at Shōjō-ji before coming to Hokkaido.
The shrine takes its name from the tanuki, a figure in Japanese folklore that represents fortune and prosperity. Visitors can observe how local residents and shop owners use the space for traditional prayer and wish-making practices.
The shrine is located in a lively neighborhood with good public transportation connections and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should come during daytime to see the grounds clearly and explore the surrounding shops and restaurants.
The shrine contains a tanuki statue where visitors can touch different body parts to receive different blessings. Touching the head is believed to help with studies, while touching the shoulders and chest is said to bring help with love and finding a good partner.
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