Sorachi-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Sorachi-jinja is a Shinto shrine near the centre of Bibai, Hokkaido, listed as a prefectural shrine (kensha) under the old shrine ranking system. Its current main hall was completed in 1925, and the grounds hold a zelkova-wood mikoshi made in Asakusa and donated in 1961, plus a Japanese cypress estimated at 900 years old and designated a Bibai city monument.
The shrine was founded in 1891, when a settlement of tondenhei military colonists was established and artillery, cavalry and engineer units were posted here. In 1894, 160 cavalry households and townspeople built the shrine; in 1901 it was renamed Sorachi-jinja from Bibai-jinja, and in 1903 a new hall was completed on its present site beside the tonden cavalry headquarters. It was ranked village shrine in 1911, district shrine in 1925 and prefectural shrine in 1933.
The shrine's name changed from Bibai-jinja to Sorachi-jinja in 1901, when it was registered as an unranked shrine. Its portable mikoshi, made of zelkova wood in Asakusa, was donated in 1961. After the 16th chief priest took office in 2009, a new parishioners' association formed and the mikoshi procession resumed on 11 September 2009 after an eight-year gap.
Sorachi-jinja stands about ten minutes on foot from JR Bibai Station, in the centre of Bibai. The grounds are entered freely; the shrine office is staffed only on weekends, since the 17th chief priest took office in 2011 while holding another post. The mikoshi is kept on the grounds and is carried out again during the autumn procession, revived in 2009.
The shrine's mikoshi, made of zelkova wood in Asakusa, was dedicated in 1961. After the portable shrine procession lapsed, it was revived on 11 September 2009, eight years after the last carrying, when a new parishioners' association formed. A second treasure is a Japanese cypress estimated at 900 years old, designated by Bibai city.
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