Kotoni Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan

Kotoni Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Kotoni 1-jo 7-chome district of Nishi Ward, Sapporo, founded in 1875 as Takehaya Shrine for the tondenhei settler-soldiers of Kotoni. Its grounds hold the Kotoni Tondenhei House, a Hokkaido-designated tangible cultural property: the dwelling granted to settler-soldier Sato Kiichiro in 1875 and moved here in 1964. Also on the site are a chinmonhi memorial stele erected in 1911, a stele marking the Kotoni Tonden Jusanjo site (1981), and the small Anzen, Hotoku and Mikadoyama Kotoni Tenmangu shrines.

Kotoni Shrine was founded in 1875 as Takehaya Shrine, set up by tondenhei settlers and enshrining Date Shigemune of the Sendai domain as Takehaya Chio no Kami. It was renamed Kotoni Shrine in 1897, moved to its present site in 1915, and became a gōsha in 1944. In 1968 it received the kami of Ise Jingu's inner and outer shrines.

The shrine is dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess, and draws visitors who come to give thanks, make wishes, or show respect to the spirits. The space features a simple, respectful design with offerings at the altar and wooden plaques where people write their hopes and hang them for the spirits to see.

Kotoni Shrine stands at Kotoni 1-jo 7-chome 1-30 in Nishi Ward, Sapporo, a short walk from Kotoni Station on the Tozai subway line. The grounds hold the Tondenhei house, a Hokkaido-designated tangible cultural property, moved here in 1964. The white Samoyed dog Yuki-o, kept at the shrine since 2005, greets New Year visitors on January 1st.

Visitors often overlook the tradition of wooden ema plaques where people write private wishes and hang them on the shrine, hoping the spirits will hear their prayers. These personal notes form a touching collection of human hopes and dreams accumulated over many years.