555 ~ Gosha Inari Jinja (Huge Torii & Basket Foxes)

 

Japanese Name: 五社稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Gosha Inari Jinja
English Translation: Five Shrines Inari Shrine
Size: Big
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 16
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: Kakeyama-2 小坂井町欠山 Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken
Coordinates: 34.79863,137.36857

This is one of those shrines that screams "HERE I AM!!!" with a Torii that is taller than most buildings in the area.

There's two pairs of life-sized stone foxes carrying baskets for offerings outside, and at least another two foxes inside the shrine itself.

554 ~ Fukuju Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 福寿稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Fukuju Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: Long Life and Happiness Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Small Side Shrine of Ihouin
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 16
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: Gōchū-74 Shinozukachō, Toyokawa, Aichi 441-0102
Coordinates: 34.80257,137.37111

A small side shrine of Ihouin (威宝院 "Majestic Treasure Temple"), located at the street corner of the temple grounds. Technically, this is still within Toyokawa, but actually, it is part of the extended settlement stretch clinging to the railroad line to Toyohashi. You can see the rice fields on either side on the map.

Anyway, four foxes reside within this shrine: A pair of small stone foxes, and a pair of tiny porcelain foxes.
 

553 ~ Chuuou Inari

 

Japanese Name: 中央稲荷
Romanized Reading: Chuuou Inari
English Translation: Central Inari
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Hanaiji
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 16
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: 13-10 Hanaicho, Toyokawa, Aichi 442-0816
Coordinates: 34.81541,137.39183

Near the border of Toyokawa, there stands Hanaiji (花井寺 "Flower Well Temple"), a big Budhist temple that features this tiny little fox shrine sitting in the shade of its bell tower. A total of 16 tiny porcelain foxes reside within.
 

EXTRA: Toyokawa ~ City of Foxes

I've been all around Japan, and I haven't found a single city that celebrates foxes as much as Toyokawa. Let's start with the station, where you're already greeted by so many vulpine figuresall over.

 

Right outside the station, there's a roundabout with an array of statues depicting children dancing with foxes.

And there is more vulpinity all around town.

 

 

Including on the manhole covers.

 

And here's Koko-chan (狐娘ちゃん "Fox Daughter"), one of the city's mascot characters (the other being the Inari-Sushi fox Inarin that you've already seen above quite a lot)

Fancy opening your own fox shrine? They've got everything you need right here! A tiny fox shrine with a pair of life-sized stone foxes costs something around 2000€, if you have it.

That was a bit too pricey for me (and they wouldn't fit into my luggage no matter how hard I tried), so instead I picked key chains of the town's two vulpine mascot characters to bring along.

 

552 ~ Kyuu Okunoin Ato

 

Japanese Name: 旧奥の院跡
Romanized Reading: Kyuu Okunoin Ato
English Translation: Former Inner Hall Remnant
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Toyokawa Inari
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 19
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: 1 Toyokawacho, Toyokawa, Aichi 442-0033
Coordinates: 34.82547,137.39219

The fifth and final vulpine side shrine of Toyokawa Inari. This one features a total of 19 life-sized stone foxes to watch over the tiny shrine. Both of the ones in front of the shrine feature a kit, which I suppose means they're both female, thus bringing the vixen side count to 15:35.
 

551 ~ Osame Fudou (Tiniest Foxes)

 

Japanese Name: 納符堂
Romanized Reading: Osame Fudou
English Translation: Offerings Hall
Size: Small Side Shrine of Toyokawa Inari
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: 1 Toyokawacho, Toyokawa, Aichi 442-0033
Coordinates: 34.82588,137.39245

The fourth vulpine side shrine of Toyokawa Inari. This one features many small-to-tiny foxes of varying designs, including the tiniest foxes I've ever seen. Sitting between three pairs of already tiny porcelain foxes, there's another pair that is even tinier, and then one more pair that I think might be made from metal, where each of the foxes is only around 2cm tall.

Also, the offering box has foxes painted on it, which is also not something you see very often.
 

550 ~ Toyokawa Inari Side Shrine

 

Japanese Name: ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Toyokawa Inari
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 16-Jan-2019
Location: Toyokawa
Address: 1 Toyokawacho, Toyokawa, Aichi 442-0033
Coordinates: 34.8259,137.3922

The third vulpine side shrine of Toyokawa Inari. Contrasting with all the big and fancy fox shrines, temples and areas here in Toyokawa Inari, this shrine is truly tiny. Sitting atop a flat rock at the bottom of a pillar, it features a pair of tiny porcelain foxes to watch over it, and between them another pair of even tinier porcelain foxes. You'd think that these would be as small as they get, but as a matter of fact, I should yet encounter even smaller foxes than this. This one is definitely one of the tiniest fox shrines I've encountered, though.