Loading...

Aug 15, 2016

Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine

Looking for an escape form the hot, muggy city this summer? Come and see the beauty of Shiogama Shrine!
First, go to Sendai and take the Senseki like north to Honshiogama station (30 minutes, 320 yen).


Then exit via the Shiogama Jinja exit, marked on the floor and at the door.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
You'll see a small statue garden on the left, showcasing the talents of the stone cutters in the area. Every winter the zodiac animal for the following year is unveiled. I've no idea what's going on with the jack-o-lanterns, however.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
Walk past this to the nearest crosswalk and turn right.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
Cross here and walk toward the larger street. You'll see some signs pointing your way toward the shrine, many in English and with distances labelled.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
Turn left and walk along the main street to the next crosswalk. Cross right across the large street and go straight.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
From here, walk straight for a bit, watching for signs of impending shrine.
Also, if you're interested in a useful souvenir, you can check out this little pottery shop, which is a pretty cool and not too expensive place to pick up a new rice bowl or teapot. It was also recently recognized for doing business in this location for a significant amount of time.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
After you've done your souvenir shopping (window or otherwise), continue past this place, following the main road, and before you know it...
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo    Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
You see the tori!
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo


Proceed under the tori and to the stone steps that angle upward and to the left.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo    Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
At the top of the first staircase, you'll find this little diversion to the left. This path leads to a lovely little tea house and historical building where volunteers give tours during business hours.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
After this, get back to the stairway and continue up the many, many stairs.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo

Eventually, on the left, you will see a small parking lot with vending machines and a bench or two. If you're feeling winded, feel free to take a break and grab something refreshing.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo

Ready to go? Great! Get back to the stairs and continue up the path, and...yeah, basically just do that for a bit. Closer to the shrine, you'll see a little structure on the left where you can sit down for a little rest if need be.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
Pretty soon, you'll see some more tori coming up ahead of you and a small non-ceremonial building to the right. The little building is a small museum of maritime artifacts from this area. Not bad if you need to get out of the sun, but the English is limited.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo

From here, you can explore the gardens at the shrine, take in one of the most beautiful views of the whole city, or even picnic in the hanami area, vacant but shaded in seasons without cherry blossoms.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photoSummer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photoSummer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo

When you're ready to head into the main shrine areas, walk under the giant red tori and follow the path to the entrances. There are three separate shrine entrances. The first two that you come to each lead to its own shrine area, where you can pray the Shinto way (throw a 5 yen coin, ring a bell, clap twice, pray) or stop by one of the side buildings to buy charms and the like.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo    Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
To get to the third entrance, follow the path around a bend.
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo     Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
Summer Escape! How to Get to: Shiogama Shrine photo
There it is! Beyond this entrance is the main portion of Shiogama shrine, featuring a larger area for purchases and two different praying locations as well as several hand-cleansing stations, small statues and more.
 


The main entrance stairway contains more than 200 stairs (or at least that was our count on the way down), many of which have been worn by time and quakes. This can be treacherous to the less adventurous, especially in poor weather conditions. That is why I call my normal path the "easy" way.

I hope you enjoyed our walk to Shiogama Shrine and take it upon yourself to come out and visit us this summer. It really is a gorgeous place.

JTsu

JTsu

A working mom/writer/teacher explores her surroundings in Miyagi-ken and Tohoku, enjoying the fun, quirky, and family friendly options the area has to offer.


1 Comment

  • Nguyen9856

    on Oct 2

    Hi, I'm Trang from ImagineCR.Inc. I'm doing a show on BS 12 channel called "Sahel Rosa's Ichioshi Nippon". This show is all about travel and report about Japan's city and this time I am going to make it in Shiogama and Matsushima. In the show, I am planning to make an interview to forgeiners who live in Shiogama and Matsushima about this place's tourist spot. I was searching on the Internet and found out your Youtube channel. I think it would be great if we can make an interview. If you have any interest, contact me with the email below. trang.n@imagine-cr.com Looking forward to seeing you soon. P/s: Sorry for my poor English. I haven't used it for a long time. 初めまして。 東京都でテレビ番組を制作しているいまじんCRのチャンと申します。 現在、BS12の「サヘル・ローズのイチオシNIPPON」を担当しております。 こちらの番組は日本の各地に訪れて日本の魅力を紹介する旅・情報番組です。 今回は塩釜市・松島町の旅を考えております。 番組内に小コーナがございましてご当地の在住外国人が観光スポットやグルメなどをご紹介頂くという企画を考えております。 塩釜市在住外国人を探している時、ジェシカさんのユーチューブチャンネルを見つけました。 ぜひご協力頂きたいと思いまして連絡致しました。 もし興味がございましたら、以下のメールアドレスに連絡頂けると助かります。 trang.n@imagine-cr.com ご連絡をお待ちしております。