【Hokkaido】Heartwarming Hokkaido Shrine – Summer Edition

After leaving Biei, we visited several places but couldn’t find any shrines selling omamori (Japanese amulets).
So, when we returned to Sapporo, we decided to visit the Hokkaido Shrine again.
This is my third visit to the Hokkaido Shrine~
I’ve been here in August and December before~
This time, it’s July.
However, the previous two visits were with a tour group, and this time we drove ourselves~

Why do I call the Hokkaido Shrine heartwarming?
Because when you visit the Hokkaido Shrine by car, parking is free for the first hour.
Additionally, they offer free tea and snacks for visitors to enjoy~
It’s truly wonderful~

The walk from the parking lot to the shrine is very short, and soon you’ll find yourself at the approach to the shrine.

Hokkaido Shrine
The weather wasn’t great that day; out of the 9 days in Hokkaido, this was the worst weather.

Temizuya (purification fountain)

The open space in front of the shrine is still there.

Having visited three times and with the bad weather, I didn’t feel like taking photos.
Ema (votive tablets)

This person is obsessed with getting into the University of Tokyo.

Place to tie omikuji (fortune slips)

Hokkaido is so friendly to Taiwan, they even have fortune slips in Chinese.

Someone was having a wedding ceremony here.

After the visit, we were ready to leave the Hokkaido Shrine.
We noticed a rest area and decided to check it out.

They offer free hot tea and snacks here: Hangan Sama (toasted rice cake).
Since it was hot, we didn’t take the hot tea.
There was still one piece of Hangan Sama left, so we quickly grabbed it~

A box of four Hangan Sama costs ¥380.
Very affordable.

This one was freshly made, still warm in hand.

Taking a bite, the outer layer had a slightly rough texture, while the red bean filling was smooth and delicious.
Rough on the outside, chewy in the middle, and soft inside…
It felt like the famous Yasunaga Mochi from Mie Prefecture.
It was really tasty~

That’s my heartwarming experience at the Hokkaido Shrine~
Especially the Hangan Mochi, don’t miss it~
If you can’t get it for free, you can always buy it~ hehe~
(I’m not sure if they offer it for free all year round)

Hokkaido Shrine (Official Website)

Phone: 011-611-0261
Address: 〒064-0959 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Miyagaoka 474
Transportation: Sapporo City Subway – Tozai Line, get off at “Maruyama Koen” Station, about a 20-minute walk.
Map:

『Original Source:https://nicklee.tw/1342/hokkaido-jingu-summer/