The Hokkaido Sanctuary (Hokkaido Jingu), built in 1871, is one of the most important (and visited) religious sites of the Shinto in the country. Adjacent to the Maruyama Park, the shrine became even more popular after being dedicated to the soul of the much revered Emperor Meiji in 1964. The complex is massive and consists of the huge temple building of a large garden full of cherry blossoms, a major attraction when they bloom in the spring. Another popular time is the New Year, when celebrating special festivals, or during the annual Sapporo festival in June, when long parades of traditionally dressed revelers visit the Hokkaido Shrine and pay homage to their ancestors and the spirits of the country's most respected religious leaders.