1. About Shonai Shrine

Shonai Shrine is located in Tsuruoka Park, in the heart of Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture.

This shrine was built on the site of Tsurugaoka Castle, the former castle of the Shonai Domain, and it conveys the history and culture of the Shonai Domain.

Shonai Shrine was founded in 1877.

Even after the end of the feudal system, the four successive lords of the Shonai Domain are enshrined as deities, out of the affection of the local residents who still admire the former feudal lord (the Sakai family).

The four lords of the Sakai family made significant contributions to the development of Shonai. Therefore, this place can be seen as a place of respect for the lords who laid the foundation for the region.

Furthermore, Tsuruoka Park, where Shonai Shrine is located, is known nationwide as a famous spot for cherry blossoms.

This time, I was able to visit the shrine amidst the beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom.

One of the attractions of Shonai Shrine is that you can enjoy both visiting the shrine and taking a walk in nature at the same time.

2. Highlights of the shrine grounds

① Flower arrangement in a water basin

At Shonai Shrine, you can enjoy Hana Chozu, a water basin filled with colorful flowers.

Colorful flowers, chosen to match the season and events, are displayed every single day of the year.

The floral arrangements in the water basin, such as hydrangeas in the summer, are so beautiful that you’ll want to take pictures of them throughout the seasons.

A must-see when visiting the shrine!

② Shuin stamp

Shonai Shrine’s shuin stamps are popular not only for their regular Shuin stamps, but also for their flower language shuin stamps, which feature designs that change every month, as well as seasonal designs and special designs tailored to festivals and events.

This time, I was able to find the limited-edition three-sided shuin stamp featuring cherry blossoms. (Distribution period: April 1 to April 19, 2026)

The shuin stamp allows visitors to experience the changing seasons of the shrine and has become a popular way to commemorate their visit.

③ Treasure Hall

The Treasure Hall, which opened in 1998, displays valuable items from the former Sakai family, the feudal lords of the domain.

There are seasonal exhibitions featuring art and craft items associated with the feudal lord, as well as Hina dolls and May Festival dolls that have been carefully passed down through generations.

I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history of Tsuruoka that lie behind Shonai Shrine.

3. Shrine Café Katabami

After visiting the shrine and strolling around the grounds, you’ll want to stop by the Shrine Café Katabami, located within the shrine grounds.

On July 7, 2025, a new café offering lunch and sweets opened in the same location that was formerly known as Kissaten Mingei Katabami about 30 years ago.

① Appearance and Introspection

This appearance is impressive for its calm, traditional Japanese aesthetic that blends seamlessly into the surrounding shrine landscape.

There’s also a spacious terrace seating area outside, which is perfect on a sunny day.

Also, you can bring your dog along, so you can stop by while out for a walk.

The interior of the shop is a lovely space that exudes warmth, with furniture from the former Kissaten Mingei Katabami era still in use.

There are counter seats and table seats available. The retro atmosphere makes it a comfortable place to savor the lingering feeling after visiting the shrine.

② The menu items that were ordered

At Shrine Café Katabami, you can enjoy both lunch and café time.

There are three meal options on the menu, and this time I had the Omusubi-zen Omodaka set meal.

The Omusubi Zen Omodaka set includes three types of rice balls this week, a side dish, otsukemono (pickled vegetables), miso dengaku (miso-glazed skewers), seasonal miso soup, and hojicha (roasted green tea).

The rice balls, made with Tsuyahime rice from Shonai, have the natural sweetness of the rice and pair perfectly with any ingredient. This time, the mackerel in miso, the pickled plum and kelp, and the red bean rice were all delicious.

On auspicious days, the addition of red bean rice to the menu is one of the highlights of visiting this shrine café.

We were able to enjoy Miso Dengaku, a popular dish at the Kissaten Mingei Katabami café at the time, as a revived menu item.

After the meal, we had dessert and drinks.

The Sakura Fukumaru Soft Serve on the spring menu is a cute dessert featuring rich, creamy soft-serve ice cream topped with a Fukumaru cookie (shaped like a shrine cat), spring-like cherry blossom powder, and cherry blossom bean paste.

This smooth and milky soft serve ice cream is perfect after a meal!

For my drink, I had an iced amazake latte (Macha green tea).

The gentle sweetness of the amazake and the slightly bitter flavor of the Macha green tea create a perfectly balanced and comforting cup of tea.

Why not take a break at Shrine Café Katabami after your visit to the shrine?

4. About the Shonai Grand Festival

The Shonai Grand Festival is the most representative festival of Shonai Shrine.

This traditional event recreates the procession of a feudal lord from the Shonai Domain and attracts many people every year.

The Shonai Grand Festival is held every year on October 6th, and on that day, about 400 citizens of Tsuruoka dress up in armor and period costumes and parade through the streets.

The scene is breathtaking, as if it has been brought back to life the landscape of the sankin-kōtai (alternate attendance system) of that era.

It is deeply moving to see how the feelings of those who admired the former feudal lord are still carefully passed down today, and it is a precious opportunity to feel the weight of history.

For tourists, this festival is highly recommended as it allows you to experience the excitement and grandeur of a daimyo procession.

5. Message

We have received a message from Ishihara-san of Shonai Shrine for everyone reading VISIT YAMAGATA.

“Shonai Shrine is a place where you can feel the history of Castle Town. We hope you will visit and enjoy the scenery of the four seasons.”

The flower-filled water basin is maintained 365 days a year, and there are seasonal highlights, such as hydrangeas in the summer and the frozen surface of the water in the winter.

Furthermore, at the Shonai Grand Festival, which tells the history of Castle Town, Tsuruoka citizens parade through the streets. We hope you will come and see the history with your own eyes and experience its grandeur.

At Shrine Café Katabami, we aim to be a place where you can relax after your visit to the shrine and where various connections can be forged. We have created a menu that allows you to savor the seasonal food culture of Shonai, so please enjoy it.

6. Basic Information

❖ SHRINE CAFE KATABAMI ❖
Hours
10:30~17:00
(Last order at 16:30)

Closed
None

Other
If the hours change due to shrine festivals or other events, it will be announced on Instagram.
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