HokkaidoLeisure

Kamikawa Shrine (上川神社)

Flow of the course

About 50 min here

About 20 min to the next stop

Next stop: Inside the arboretum that became the setting of Freezing Point

About this spot

A shrine long loved as the chief guardian of Asahikawa, its halls standing among the rich groves of Kaguraoka (神楽岡). The approach is covered by trees, and even in midsummer you can feel the air turn cool the moment you step in. Local people gather here for the Shichi-Go-San children's rite (七五三) and for festivals, so it is less a tourist site than a shrine at the center of the town's daily life. The precincts are wide and the gravel paths long, so for children the walk itself becomes a small adventure. Stopping somewhere quiet at the start of the day makes the liveliness of the water play that follows stand out all the more.

Tips

Worship is free. The gravel paths are long, so a baby carrier is easier to move with than a stroller in places. Agreeing in advance not to run in the precincts is reassuring. Parking fills up on festival days, so follow the signs in the surrounding area when you park.