If you had seen the toriis of Fushimi Inari Taisha on any Japan tourism publicity material, you are bound to go "I have to visit this place for myself". The place does exist and you really have to see the 10, 000 toriis, or shrine gates, for yourself.
The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine on the western foot of Mt. Inari is the head shine of the 30,000 Inari-sha shrines in Japan. It has been a place of worship for the guardian god of abundant crops, businesses, prosperity and family safety since the Inari Okami (god of harvest) was housed on Mt. Inari during the Wado era.
The toriis are offered by worshipers as a testaments to their prayers and gratitude, and are infused with meanings of "wishes will come through (true?)/ came through ..." The shrine buildings and toriis are vividly painted in vermilion (bright orange-red) because the color is considered to symbolize the life force and counteract spells. The fox symbol can be found throughout the grounds as it is Inari Okami's servant. It is not the fox that lives in the fields but a spirit fox that will convey our wishes to the God of Harvest.
You have to take a train from Kyoto Station
The first (of many) fox that greets you
The first torii
Vermilion all around
The map of the vicinity
And off you go, torii-hunting
This is the side of the torii which you seldom see - details the donor
This is THE side you are familiar with.
Next post, on the offerings you can afford at the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).
Fushimi Inari Taisha (Japanese) / Fushimi Inari Taisha (English)
Cost: free
Access: Take either the Keihan line from Kyoto or Osaka to Fushimi-Inari station, or the JR Nara line to Inari station. The shrine is a 5 minute walk from both stations.
Related Posts:
Japan Day 7 – Kyoto, Day 2:
- Check out and deposit luggage at reception
- Using the Kyoto City Pass One-Day Pass
- Train to Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Toji Temple
- Kyoto, Japan: Going Green in Gion
- Kyoto, Japan: Gion District
- Kyoto, Japan: Gion’s Shirakawa Street
- Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Jishu Shrine & Otowa Spring
- Ginkakuji Temple
- Making More Offerings and Getting your Fortunes Told in Kyoto
- Train to Osaka
Great photos :)
ReplyDeleteGreat pic. :0)
ReplyDeleteWah, I really have to check this place out. Thanks for the great photos ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! And you have such great stories to tell on your exotic travels! Such a good read!
ReplyDeleteYup I'm glad I visited the shrine. Wow you're quite the globetrotter. Nice!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's even nicer in real life!
ReplyDeleteYes you should! I highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! :)
ReplyDelete