EXTRA ~ Ise Jingu Geku

Disclaimer: There aren't any foxes here, but I can't possibly write a blog about Shinto Shrines and not include THE most important Shrine in all of Japan. So here you go!

Japanese Name: 伊勢神宮外宮
Romanized Reading: Ise Jingu Geku
English Translation: Ise Shrine Outer Shrine
Size: Complex
Deity: Toyouke
First Visit: 14-Sep-2023  
Location: Ise
Address: 279 Toyokawacho, Ise, Mie 516-0042
Coordinates: 34.487,136.702

The outer shrine is actually the one that's closer to the heart of the city, and occupies an area of approximately 40 acres on the flank of Takakurayama (高倉山 "Tall Warehouse Mountain"). The deity enshrined here is Toyouke, one of the three great Earthly Deities. Most of the shrine grounds are actually forested, with broad gravel paths leading through it.

In addition to the main shrine (shown at the very top) that is so sacred that you may only take pictures from the outside, there are also a number of smaller side shrines distributed across the grounds.

And here's the Kanguraden (神楽殿 "Divine Music Mansion"), where the sacred Kagura dances are performed.

Finally, here's a map of the whole complex. Note that south is facing up on this map. As a rule, billboard maps in Japan are always oriented in such a way that the direction you're currently facing is up on the map.

618 ~ Tsukiyomi Inari Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 月夜見稲荷大神
Romanized Reading: Tsukiyomi Inari Ookami
English Translation: Moon Night View Inari Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Tsukiyomi-no-Miya
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 13-Sep-2023  
Location: Ise
Address: 1 Chome-3-19 Miyajiri, Ise, Mie 516-0072
Coordinates: 34.4931,136.7058

The final fox shrine that I should find today. As you can see, it's already getting kinda dark. However, the faded color of the Torii is not actually due to the darkness, as can be seen in contrast with the bright red flag. This tiny little shrine is just that old. The two life-sized stone foxes watching over the altar in front of the gnarled old tree are probably the newest additions to this ancient shrine.

And ancient it is, because this a side shrine of  Tsukiyomi-no-Miya (月夜見宮 "Moon Night View Shrine"), which in turn is a satellite shrine of Ise Jingu, which protects a block of green forest in the middle of the city. Of course the deity enshrined here is none other than Tsukiyomi, one of the four great heavenly deities. Nice to know he keeps foxes as company. =^,^=

617 ~ Suhara Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 須原稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Suhara Inari Jinja
English Translation: Necessary Meadow Inari Shrine
Size: Small Side Shrine of Suhara Ooyashiro
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 13-Sep-2023  
Location: Ise
Address: 1 Chome-3-6 Ichinoki, Ise, Mie 516-0071
Coordinates: 34.49321,136.70466

A side shrine located behind Suhara Ooyashiro (須原大社 "Necessary Meadow Big Shrine"). A road of roughly two dozen red Torii led me there. A pair of life-sized stone foxes watches over this shrine.
 

616 ~ Kiyokawa Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 清川稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Kiyokawa Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: Pure River Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Ima-no-Yashiro
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 13-Sep-2023  
Location: Ise
Address: 1 Chome-1-8 Miyamachi, Ise, Mie 516-0077
Coordinates: 34.4940,136.6988

A side shrine of Ima-no-Yashiro (今社 "Now Shrine"). Two life-sized stone foxes sit watch in front of it, and another two are sitting at the back of the admittedly somewhat dark interior.
 

615 ~ Mitsukichi Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 三吉稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Mitsukichi Inari Jinja
English Translation: Three Fortunes Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Seki Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 15
First Visit: 13-Sep-2023  
Location: Ise
Address: 1 Chome-2-6 Fukiage, Ise, Mie 516-0073
Coordinates: 34.4903,136.7099

Our visit to the holy city of Ise - where the Ise Jingu (伊勢神宮 "That One Force Divine Hall"), the most sacred Shinto Shrine in the world (guess why I came here) is located - starts on an auspicious note. 

We come across a fox shrine right outside of the station, in a shady copse on a traffic island that is very welcome on a hot day like today. It's a side shrine of Seki Jinja (世木神社 "Generation Tree Shrine"), and I count at least 15 tiny porcelain foxes within.

🡻Nara/Kyoto - Ise🡹

This is just a marker post. All shrines before this post are in Nara or Kyoto, and all shrines after this are in Ise.

614 ~ Inari Yashiro

 

Japanese Name: 稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Inari Yashiro
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Tanjoji
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 13-Sep-2023  
Location: Nara
Address: 32 Higashikitsujicho, Nara, 630-8331
Coordinates: 34.67533,135.82931

A tiny fox shrine just inside the gates of Tanjoji (誕生寺 "Birth Temple"). Unfortunately, the gates are closed, but I can still see a pair of tiny porcelain foxes sitting in front of it through the gaps of the fence. Unfortunately, my camera is obsessed with focusing on the fence, so I can't get any good pictures of the shrine beyond.

This is also the final fox shrine that I should find in Nara. After this, it's onward to Ise!