The shrine is dedicated to birth, growth, health, happiness, thriving and peace.
Residents of Furano in Hokkaido, Japan, have created a festival completely inspired by their geographical location. In the same way the belly button is in the centre of the body, Furano is in the centre of the Hokkaido Prefecture. Thus, the Hokkai Heso Matsuri, commonly known as the Belly Button Festival. Dancers paint themselves to depict the belly button as the mouth of a character and proceed to belly dance their way through the streets of the city. The festival also celebrates the city’s Hokushin Shrine, the proud backbone of the belly button festival. The shrine is dedicated to birth, growth, health, happiness, thriving and peace.