Ryugu Jinja

Ryugu Jinja in Otaru, the prosperous port town, is said to have been established by maritime traders praying for safety at sea. True to its name Ryugu, it enshrines the Dragon King, the deity of the sea, and has gathered devoted faith from those engaged in fishing and maritime commerce. From the Meiji period through the early Showa era, many people migrated from Honshu alongside Hokkaido's development, dedicating themselves to the shrine with both longing for their homeland deities and prayers for safety in their new land. From its vantage point overlooking the harbor, one can sense the deep connection between the shrine and the sea.