543 ~ Touato Inarisha

 

Japanese Name: 塔跡稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Touato Inarisha
English Translation: Tower Ruins Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Gangouji Fudoudou
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 1 Shibatsukinukecho, Nara-shi, Nara-ken 630-8385
Coordinates: 34.67675,135.83160

A tiny side shrine of Gangouji Fudoudou (元興寺不動堂 "Original Pleasure Temple Original Hall"), which is located in a hidden forested courtyard of sorts, that must be accessed through a gate to the west.

This one features ten tiny porcelain foxes, as well as a single lonely life sized stone fox, who is modeled as explicitly male. Since he doesn't have a counterpart, however, this one does not increase the vixen side count.

 

542 ~ Shusse Inari Jinja (Matchmaking God)

 

Japanese Name: 出世稲荷神社 
Romanized Reading: Shusse Inari Jinja
English Translation: Sucess-in-Life Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Goryou Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: ２４ 番地 Yakushidocho, Nara, 630-8321
Coordinates: 34.67619,135.83079

A tiny side shrine of Goryou Jinja (御霊神社 "Honorable Spirit Shrine") which features two small stone foxes next to the shrine, and another six tiny porcelain foxes on the shrine's porch.

This shrine is also known as Enmusubi-no-Kami (えんむすびの神 "Matchmaking God"), being "in charge" of bringing people together. A plaque next to the shrine literally reads "Matchmaking god for wedding someone wonderful".

 

541 ~ Inarisha (Red & white bibs)

 

Japanese Name: 稲荷社 
Romanized Reading: Inarisha
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Sudou Tennousha
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 40 Nishikideracho, Nara, 630-8307
Coordinates: 34.67352,135.83362

A tiny vulpine side shrine of Sudou Tennousha (崇道天皇社 "Respected Road Heavenly Emperor Shrine"). Two life-sized stone foxes flank this shrine, one with a rare white bib, and the other with the traditional red bib. Since red and white are considered auspicious colors in Japan and are frequently seen in combination, I'm actually surprised that I didn't see a pairing like this before.

Anyway, there are also six tiny porcelain foxes within the shrine. Also, Sudou Tennousha is a bit tricky to reach: Although it is located only 20m south of the main road, you actually have to go to a side road 70m to the west, and then walk back east to the shrine from there.

 

540 ~ Yuga Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 瑜伽神社 
Romanized Reading: Yuga Jinja
English Translation: Yoga Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Ten Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 1059 Takabatakecho, Nara, 630-8301
Coordinates: 34.67886,135.83571

Another shrine on the same hill as Ten Jinja, but further to the west. This one features a pair of life-sized weathered old stone foxes to watch over it. It also has a bunch of tiny side shrines, but none of them feature further foxes.
 

539 ~ Inarisha

 

Japanese Name: 稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Inarisha
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Ten Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 1049 Takabatakecho, Nara, 630-8301
Coordinates: 34.6783,135.8369

A tiny side shrine of aforementioned Ten Jinja. Two small stone foxes reside within, and take up quite a lot of space in this tiny shrine.
 

Cow 1 ~ Ten Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 天神社 
Romanized Reading: Ten Jinja
English Translation: Heaven Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: ?
Cow Count: 2
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 1049 Takabatakecho, Nara, 630-8301
Coordinates: 34.67830,135.83699

I've seen shrines featuring cow statues as signs of good luck before, but this is the first shrine that I encountered where two cows flank the entrance as shrine guardians. And wearing red bibs too! It is located at the top of a small hill, so you have to climb a few steps to get here.

Tanuki 2 ~ Chounai Anzen

 

Japanese Name: 町内安全
Romanized Reading: Chounai Anzen
English Translation: Neighborhood Safety
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Fukuuin
Deity: ?
Tanuki Count: 3
First Visit: 8-Jan-2019
Location: Nara
Address: 1365 Takabatakechō, Nara, 630-8301
Coordinates: 34.67661,135.84660

This is only the second Tanuki shrine that I come across, after Fukujushin in Tokyo. This is a humble side shrine to Fukuuin (不空院 "Negative Sky Temple"), or maybe two, but I'm counting it as one. Anyone, a pair of life-sized stone Tanuki statues flank it, and small porcelain Tanuki stands in the middle.