Hokkaido Shrine Tour Sapporo: Rituals & Mochi Tasting

Shrine rituals, fortune-drawing and sweets in an afternoon near central Sapporo

A guided tour of Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo starting in Maruyama Park and moving through Kaitaku Shrine, where you perform a water purification ritual, draw an Ezo Squirrel fortune, and taste Fuku-Rei Mochi at a historic tea house. The tour runs about an hour with an English-speaking guide. You choose between a shared group tour or a private one with your own transportation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park

• Explore Maruyama Park
• Enter through torii gate
• Visit Hokkaido Shrine grounds
• Participate in water purification ritual
• Draw Ezo Squirrel Omikuji fortune
• Enjoy Fuku-Rei Mochi at Jingu Chaya

The experience

If you have a free afternoon in Sapporo and want to step into the spiritual side of Hokkaido without spending a full day, this tour fits a single hour and covers the main sites. You start in Maruyama Park, a wooded pocket west of the city center where locals come year-round. The large torii gate marks the entrance to a quieter landscape (native trees, birds, and squirrels), and from there the path leads directly to Hokkaido Shrine itself.

Hokkaido Shrine was founded in 1869 to honor the deities of pioneering and Emperor Meiji, and it sits at the heart of how Hokkaido sees its own history. Inside the shrine grounds stands Kaitaku Shrine, dedicated to the island's early settlers. Your guide walks you through both, and at Kaitaku you participate in a temizu water purification ritual: a hands-on moment rather than something you watch. You also draw an Ezo Squirrel Omikuji, a fortune-telling practice unique to this shrine. The tour ends at Jingu Chaya, a historic tea house on the grounds, where you taste Fuku-Rei Mochi, a rice cake that locals say brings good fortune.

You can book this as a shared group tour or arrange it privately with your own transportation included. Both come with an English-speaking guide and cover the same stops and rituals. The difference is whether you travel with other visitors or on your own schedule.

What’s included

• Guided tour of Hokkaido Shrine and Kaitaku Shrine with an English-speaking guide.
• temizu water purification ritual.
• Ezo Squirrel Omikuji fortune-drawing.
• Fuku-Rei Mochi tasting at Jingu Chaya tea house. Private tour option includes transportation to and from the site.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group TourGuide in English · 13:30 and 15:00Group Tour

Private TourGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Private Tour

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to22h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by DeepExperience

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you're comfortable meeting other visitors and want to save on cost. Pick the private tour if you prefer your own pace and transportation included in one booking.

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Top questions

What exactly is the temizu water purification ritual I'll do at Kaitaku Shrine?

Temizu is a traditional Shinto practice where you rinse your hands and mouth at a water basin before entering a sacred space, meant to cleanse you spiritually before worship. Your guide will show you how to do it, and it's a real part of shrine etiquette rather than a demonstration.

What is an Ezo Squirrel Omikuji and how does it work?

Omikuji is a fortune-drawing practice found at many Japanese shrines, but the Ezo Squirrel version is specific to Hokkaido Shrine. You draw a slip of paper that contains a fortune written in Japanese and English, and the squirrel imagery ties to the native wildlife of Maruyama Park nearby.

Is Fuku-Rei Mochi something I have to buy separately, or does it come with the tour?

The mochi tasting is included in the tour price. You'll have it at Jingu Chaya as part of the experience, so there's no extra cost for this local sweet.

How long does the whole tour take, and can I do it if I'm visiting Sapporo for just one afternoon?

The tour runs about an hour, so it fits easily into a free afternoon. Maruyama Park and the shrine grounds are close together, and the pace is unhurried. You're not rushing between stops.

If I book the private tour option, does that include transportation to Maruyama Park?

Yes, the private tour includes transportation. The group tour does not, so you'll need to make your own way to Maruyama Park. Public transportation options are available nearby.

Is this tour accessible if I'm using a wheelchair or traveling with a stroller?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park are wheelchair accessible, and you can bring a stroller if you're traveling with infants or small children. Service animals are also welcome.