Located in the coastal town of Tomakomai, Hokkaido,平浜稲荷神社 is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okappi, the kami of rice and fertility. The shrine's architecture is typical of Heian period (10th-12th century) style, with a rectangular main hall and a large torii gate. The shrine's location on the coast reflects its association with the sea and the land.
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Inari
- Kami enshrined
- Inari
- Coordinates
- 42.2196977, 139.8606332
Visitor tip
To experience the shrine at its most serene, visit at dawn or dusk when the sun is low, and the mist from the sea still lingers in the air.
Cultural notes
As a Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Okappi, 平浜稲荷神社 is closely associated with the worship of rice and fertility. The shrine's torii gate is said to resemble a giant rice stalk, symbolizing the connection between the shrine and the land. During the annual Rice Harvest Festival, locals bring offerings of rice and other grains to the shrine in gratitude for the bounty of the earth.
Historical note
The shrine was founded in 1872, during the Meiji period, as part of a larger effort to modernize Shinto shrines in Japan.