Shinkotoni Shrine (新琴似神社)

Flow of the course

About this spot

A shrine standing amid the residential streets of Shinkotoni, long cherished as the local guardian. Preserved on the grounds is a wooden building that was used as the company headquarters of the tondenhei (屯田兵) farmer-soldiers in the pioneer era, and you can view it from the outside. This single building conveys how the area now lined with houses and apartment blocks was once the living ground of people opening up the wilderness. It is not a flashy tourist site, but it makes for a pleasant way to start the day: touching on local history before heading off to play. Shinkotoni Niban-dori Park (新琴似二番通公園) is within walking distance.

Tips

Whether the interior is open to the public and on which days is limited, so check in advance before you go. It sits within a residential district, so keep quiet in the surrounding area. Parking spaces are limited, so public transport or walking is the safer choice. There is no shop on the grounds, so have drinks ready beforehand.

Best time to visit

About 1 hour. The cool morning hours are the most pleasant time to walk.

Access & map

1-6, 3-chome, Shinkotoni 8-jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0908