286 ~ Takeishi Jinja, Nakayama Jinja, Kozakura Jinja

 

Japanese Names:  竹石神社, 中山神社, 小櫻神社
Romanized Readings: Takeishi Jinja, Nakayama Jinja, Kozakura Jinja
English Translations: Bamboo Stone Shrine, Middle Mountain Shrine, Small Cherry Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59917,130.37721

The ninth and final vulpine side shrine of Kurose Jinja. Nine is a good number for foxes. As is three, why this shrine has three names again. Also, inside there are two times three tiny porcelain foxes, two of which look like they were once fully gilded, but now are already quite weathered.

 

285 ~ Tsukimi Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  月見神社
Romanized Reading: Tsukimi Jinja
English Translation: Moon View Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59915,130.37720

The eight vulpine side shrine of Kurose Jinja. This one is also located at the top of the stairs, right to the right of Tsukimaru Jinja. It's even tinier, and made entirely from metal. On the inside, six tiny porcelain foxes have taken refuge, four of which are gilded.

284 ~ Tsukimaru Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  月丸神社
Romanized Reading: Tsukimaru Jinja
English Translation: Round Moon Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59915,130.37720

The seventh vulpine side shrine of Kurose Jinja, which also bears one of the four names of the previous one. This one is located on the top of a flight of stairs leading roughly one story up the hillside. The stairway notably has "blockers" in the middle, because the middle is reserved for the gods. The Torii are once again made from metal, and a total of eight tiny porcelain foxes sit within the shrine. Interestingly, this time the asymmetrical number of five of them are gilded.

283 ~ Sugimori Jinja, Kimiyo Jinja, Ishiana Jinja, Tsukimaru Jinja

 

Japanese Names:  杉森神社, 君代神社, 石穴神社, 月丸神社
Romanized Reading: Sugimori Jinja, Kimiyo Jinja, Ishiana Jinja, Tsukimaru Jinja
English Translation: Cedar Forest Shrine, You Replacement Shrine, Stone Cave Shrine, Round Moon Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59917, 130.37722

The sixth foxy side shrine of Kurose Jinja. This is one shrine that goes by four names, as written on the plaque on the Torii. It returns to the tradition of having a metal Torii, but also features a stone Torii. Also, this is the first fox shrine here to not feature any gilded foxes - instead, it "only" houses eight "normal" tiny porcelain foxes. Talk about wild!

282 ~ Aranami Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  荒波神社
Romanized Reading: Aranami Jinja
English Translation: Wild Waves Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Susanoo?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59915, 130.37723

The fifth foxy side shrine of Kurose Jinja, and one that breaks with all the patterns. For starters, it features wooden Torii, and instead of two tiny gilded porcelain foxes inside, it has four! Also, according to the plaque near the shrine, this one is dedicated to the god of the sea and storms, which sounds a lot like Susanoo. It  also says that if a fire breaks out in your hearth, you can call upon this god to put it out, which is why you should state your address when you pray at this shrine.
 

281 ~ Souga Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  宗賀神社
Romanized Reading: Souga Jinja
English Translation: Religious Joy Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59914, 130.37725

The fourth foxy side shrine of Kurose Jinja, and the first one to have a stone Torii instead of a metal one. However, it still has two tiny gilded porcelain foxes in addition to the four tiny white porcelain foxes. I believe I am starting to see a pattern emerge here.
 

280 ~ Suehiro Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  末廣神社
Romanized Reading: Suehiro Jinja
English Translation: Wide Tip Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59912,130.37728

The third foxy side shrine of Kurose Jinja, which seamlessly continues the tradition of metal Torii and one pair of gilded foxes among its tiny porcelain foxes. This one is another stone shrine, and once again the symbology just screams "Inari".

279 ~ Shiratama Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  白玉神社
Romanized Reading: Shiratama Jinja
English Translation: White Jewel Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59912, 130.37728

The second foxy side shrine of Kurose Jinja. This one also features a metal Torii, but the tiny shrine itself is fashioned from stone. Inside sit two pairs of tiny porcelain foxes, one pair of which is gilded. Also, with the characteristic branch and symbols, I am quite certain that this one is an Inari shrine.
 

278 SILVER ~ Kurose Jinja & Uka Jinja

Here we have something unusual: A non-fox shrine harboring so many fox side shrines that it qualifies as a silver fox shrine, so I'll cover both the parent shrine and its first foxy side shrine in one post here.

Japanese Name:  黒瀬神社
Romanized Reading: Kurose Jinja
English Translation: Black Shallows Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59922,130.37713

A shrine that was built in 1732 during the Great Kyoho Famine, during which one third of the local population starved to death. In a plea to the gods, this shrine was built at the foot of the hill which back during the time was still at the shore of the ocean. The deity enshrined here - Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami (宇賀之魂神 "Deity of the Joyful House"), the deity of the five grains - is very closely related to Inari, and probably shares the same origin. As such, it is not surprising to see foxes at this shrine too.

Japanese Name:  宇賀神社
Romanized Reading: Uka Jinja
English Translation: Joyful House Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kurose Jinja
Deity: Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 3 Chome-9 Minato, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0075
Coordinates: 33.59908,130.37730

The first vulpine side shrine of Kurose Jinja. This one interestingly features metal Torii, and metal grates on the tiny shrine, inside of which a total of six tiny foxes reside, two of which are gilded.
 

277 BRONZE ~ Imamasu Inari Jinja (Smiling Fox Shrine)

Japanese Name:  今益稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Imamasu Inari Jinja
English Translation: Present Gains Inari Shrine
Size: Small side shrine of Keigo Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: ~41
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Tenjin
Address: 2 Chome-2-20 Tenjin, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0001
Coordinates: 33.58756,130.40013
Website: https://kegojinja.or.jp/imamasu/

A very foxy side shrine of Keigo Jinja (警固神社 "Watchmen Shrine"), featuring a pair of life-sized stern-looking stone foxes outside to ward off evil and another pair of smiling black foxes further in to welcome visitors, plus another three dozen small-to-tiny ones inside. These are notably not of some standard design, but rather of a make that I haven't seen anywhere else so far. Notably, a few of the foxes also feature black-tipped tails.

Notably, the shrine also holds a legend, the legend of the smiling fox:

Briefly summarized, it is about a tofu salesman who always prayed on the shrine on his rounds. One day, he encountered a shy fox and fed him a piece of Aburaage (Fried Tofu). The fox ade it happily, then smiled, bowed and left. At that time, a samurai who had a shy daughter that never smiled was watching, and wondered if he could also get his daughter to smile like this if he brought her home some of that delicious tofu. And so the rumor spread that the tofu sold by the salesman would put a smile on everyone's face, and the tofu salesmen never had to worry about sales again.

276 ~ Arakida Inarisha

 

Japanese Name:  荒木田稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Arakida Inarisha
English Translation: Rough Tree Field Inari Shrine
Size: Small side shrine of Suikyou Tenmangu
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 6+
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Tenjin
Address: 1 Chome-15-４ Tenjin, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0001
Coordinates: 33.59275,130.40165

A foxy side shrine of Suikyou Tenmangu (水鏡天満宮 "Water Mirror Tenmangu"). This one features two life-sized stone foxes sitting watch in front, with at least another four small ones residing within.
 

275 ~ Yuga Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  瑜伽稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Yuga Inari Jinja
English Translation: Yoga Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 3
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Hakata
Address: 8 Taihakumachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 812-0033
Coordinates: 33.6032,130.4057

A tiny fox shrine next to a private home in central Fukuoka. Three tiny porcelain foxes watch over this one.
 

274 ~ Gentoku Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  玄徳稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Gentoku Inari Jinja
English Translation: Mysterious Virtue Inari Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Hakata
Address: 1 Chome-21-24 Chiyo, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 812-0044
Coordinates: 33.60258,130.41743

A medium-sized fox shrine in the more central part of Fukuoka. This one features a pair of high-quality life-sized stone foxes, and another pair that is smaller and of more crude design.

273 ~ Maruyama Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  丸山神社
Romanized Reading: Maruyama Jinja
English Translation: Round Mountain Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kotohime Daimyoujin
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 7
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Hakata
Address: 3 Chome-8-2 Katakasu, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0043
Coordinates: 33.59817, 130.42156

  

Aforementioned side shrine of  Kotohime Daimyoujin. This one features seven tiny porcelain foxes inside, and once again, the foxes and symbology make me assume that this one, too, is an Inari shrine.

272 ~ Kotohime Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name:  琴姫大明神
Romanized Reading: Kotohime Daimyoujin
English Translation: Harp Princess Great Radiant Deity
Size: Small
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Hakata
Address: 3 Chome-8-2 Katakasu, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0043, Japan
Coordinates: 33.59817, 130.42156

A cute little fox shrine with a little fox side shrine that I'll get to next. This one does not feature "Inari" in its name, but everything about the shrine just screams "Inari", from the foxes to the symbols to the leaves inside, so I'm pretty certain that this one is an Inari shrine.

Anyway, two pairs of life-sized stone foxes sit watch outside, with the first pair gilded and the second pair of plain stone. And inside, another four tiny porcelain foxes have taken up residence.
 

271 ~ Side Shrine of Matsunomori Inari Jinja (Snakes & Foxes)

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Matsunomori Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 23
Snake Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Yoshizuka
Address: 7 Chome-6 Yoshizuka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 812-0041
Coordinates: 33.6089,130.4308

The first fox shrine on my last large lap through Fukuoka, and Dragon should I find many fox shrines on that one, so we're gonna be covering all those for the rest of this year, and then some of January!

Anyway, this one is a side shrine of Matsunomori Inari Jinja (松ノ森稲荷神社 "Forest of Pines Inari Shrine"), which pretty likely makes this an Inari shrine as well, especially with all the foxes and snakes watching over this tiny stone shrine.
 

270 ~ Okunomiya Inari Jinja (Multi-tailed fox statue)

 

Japanese Name:  奥之宮稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Okunomiya Inari Jinja
English Translation: Innermost Shrine Inari Shrine
Size: Medium side shrine of Miyajidake Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 23
First Visit: 21-Oct-2018
Location: Miyaji
Address: 7-１ Miyaji Motomachi, Fukutsu, Fukuoka 811-3309
Coordinates: 33.78058, 130.48809

Another shrine that I found on a "family trip" that my host took me on with some of her acquaintances. This one is a side shrine of the big Miyajidake Jinja (宮地嶽神社 "Shrine Grounds Peak Shrine"), which is located in the semi-eponymous Miyaji (宮司 "Shrine Administration") town north of Fukuoka. Two life-sized stone foxes sit watch outside of the shrine, while a bunch of tiny porcelain foxes reside within. There's also a painting of a Byakko, as well as a little statue of a multi-tailed fox within (although it's hard to tell exactly how many tails that one sports, at least five I think, and my guess is gonna be nine).
 

269 ~ Side Shrine of Shirakawa Ebisu Jinja

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Shirakawa Ebisu Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Kamiwajiro
Address: Higashi Ward, Fukuoka, 811-0216
Coordinates: 33.6870,130.4405

The final fox shrine that I should find today. Since it is already getting late and dark, one picture of this one ended up getting a little bit blurry. Anyway, this is a side shrine of Shirakawa Ebisu Jinja (白川恵比須神社 "White River Ebisu Shrine"), a shrine dedicated to the Ebisu. Two life-sized stone foxes flank the tiny stone shrine, and a pair of tiny porcelain foxes resides within.

268 ~ Side Shrine of Isozaki Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Isozaki Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Shingu
Address: 89 Shingu, Kasuya District, Fukuoka 811-0115, Japan
Coordinates: 33.7148,130.4334

There seem to be a lot of nameless little fox shrines around this area. Anyway, this one is a side shrine of the big Isozaki Jinja (磯崎神社 "Seashore Cape Shrine"), and features four tiny porcelain foxes inside, which makes me assume this is an Inari shrine. The Torii in front of the shrine reads Chiyomori Jinja (千代森神社 "Thousand Years Forest Shrine"), but I assume that one refers to the other tiny shrine next to this one.
 

267 ~ Side Shrine of Touzenji

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Touzenji
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Shingu-Minato
Address: 281 Minato, Shingu, Kasuya District, Fukuoka 811-0116, Japan
Coordinates: 33.7132,130.4258

A tiny foxy side shrine of Touzenji (東漸寺 "Eastwards Advance Temple"), a Buddhist temple that is technically already over in the next town over - Shingu (新宮 "New Shrine) - though it feels more like an extension of Fukuoka, with no clear dividing line between the two. Four little porcelain foxes have made their home in this humble stone shrine, and two of them have already lost their heads.
 

266 ~ Side Shrine of Shishiki Jinja (Self-carved fox)

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Shishiki Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 5
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Nata
Address: 1238-2 Nata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 811-0204
Coordinates: 33.69089, 130.40657

The final foxy side shrine of Shishiki Jinja, also located within the glade. This one should forever be special for me, since it seems humble enough for me to add the crude soap stone fox that I carved while in therapy to the four resident tiny porcelain foxes. I wonder if it's still out there.
 

265 ~ Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name:  稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Shishiki Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Nata
Address: 1238-2 Nata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 811-0204
Coordinates: 33.69140, 130.40712

Another tiny foxy side shrine of Shishiki Jinja. This one is located across the path through the woods, in a little glade of sorts. Six tiny porcelain foxes reside within this tiny wooden shrine.

 

264 ~ Side Shrine of Shishiki Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Shishiki Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 16-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Nata
Address: 1238-2 Nata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 811-0204
Coordinates: 33.69089, 130.40657

Another tiny foxy side shrine of Shishiki Jinja. This one doesn't even have a name, so I can only assume it's an Inari shrine by the presence of the two tiny porcelain foxes inside.