Ryugu Shrine | Otaru Tourism

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From Otaru Station, walk for about 5 minutes towards Yoichi, pass through the torii gate and walk up the hill to reach Ryugu Shrine.

Ryugu Shrine was built by Enomoto Takeaki, a Hokkaido Development Commissioner. He served the Tokugawa Shogunate and fought alongside Hijikata Toshizo in the Battle of Hakodate at the end of the Edo period. After the war, he was imprisoned as a mastermind of the Hakodate War, but his talent was recognized by the Meiji government, and he was appointed to the Hokkaido Development Commission.

While working hard to develop Hokkaido, he envisioned providing opportunities for his fellow struggling people and turning Hokkaido into a center of Japanese trade and diplomacy. He then focused on Otaru, which had a wonderful port.

In 1869, the government acquired a large tract of land in the Inaho-cho area where Ryugu Shrine is currently located, and began to develop it. In 1876, Ryugu Shrine was built on this bare land, with the aim of creating a place of spiritual refuge for people who had moved there from other areas.

Located on a hill overlooking the sea, the sacred sycamore tree welcomes visitors. A calligraphy handwritten by Enomoto Takeaki, which was donated to the shrine, is displayed in the shrine building. Seven enshrined gods are enshrined here, and the shrine was formerly ranked as a village shrine. Currently, the shrine has over 4,000 parishioners.

After Taro Aso visited Ryugu Shrine, he became Prime Minister, and the shrine is now said to bring good fortune and career advancement.

Facility name: Ryugu Shrine

address
3-22-11 Inaho, Otaru City, Hokkaido 047-0032

phone
0134-22-4268

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This Tai Monaka chocolate features 23 lucky spots in Otaru on the packaging. Chocolate and rice puffs are placed inside a traditionally baked monaka shell made from 100% glutinous rice.

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UNGAPLUS

This shop, renovated from the "Old Otaru Warehouse Main Building," said to be the oldest commercial warehouse in Hokkaido in the Otaru North Canal area, develops and sells original products that convey the charm of Otaru. The shop tells the story of Otaru's prosperity during the Hokkaido pioneering era and the history of the Kitamae ships, and displays and sells processed seafood and agricultural products from ports of call and Hokkaido, as well as original products by artisans and artists with ties to Otaru.