HokkaidoLeisure

Sapporo Gokoku Shrine (札幌護國神社)

Flow of the course

About 50 min here

About 25 min to the next stop

Next stop: Picnic in the shade at a park with a pond and Japanese garden

About this spot

A quiet shrine wrapped in trees, right next to Nakajima Park (中島公園). Although it sits in the heart of the city, the air changes the moment you pass through the torii gate, leaving only the sound of cicadas and gravel underfoot. The sequence of purifying your hands at the water basin and bowing before the hall is like a small ceremony for children, and it stays in their memory. The precincts are just the right size, so even little ones can walk a full circuit without getting tired. You can walk to and from Nakajima Park, which makes it easy to link up the morning plans.

Tips

Agreeing with your children beforehand to be quiet and to bow before the torii gate helps everyone stay calm. There is no shop inside the precincts, so prepare drinks before you set out. It can get crowded on days with ceremonies, so follow the on-site guidance for parking. Since you can walk to Nakajima Park, deciding where to leave the car first makes the day more efficient.