Sapporo Gokoku Shrine

The Sapporo Gokoku Shrine stands out for the thick, evergreen forest that swallows the sounds of the surrounding city. It serves as a memorial for the souls of those from Hokkaido who died in wars since the Meiji Restoration. In nineteen forty-four, the shrine relocated here to accommodate growing crowds of mourners. A few years later, an American occupation officer ordered the removal of the wooden torii gate, fearing it promoted nationalism. The local priests buried the gate’s remains instead of destroying them.