235 ~ Aikyou Inari Jinja (Fox Dump)

 

Japanese Name:  愛敬稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Akiyou Inari Jinja
English Translation: Charm Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Yasugi Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Yasugi
Address: Nishimiyukidori-1404 Yasugichō, Yasugi-shi, Shimane-ken 692-0011
Coordinates: 35.4265538,133.251061

Another fox shrine with a fox dump. Maybe that's a thing in this area? Or maybe an earthquake struck and this is the result? Anyway, this is a side shrine of Yasugi Jinja (安来神社 "Relaxed Coming Shrine"), and in addition to the dump of tiny porcelain foxes it also features about a dozen weathered stone foxes ranging from life-sized to small. The life-sized ones are depicted wearing Shimenawa-collars, which I assume is meant to identify them as divine guardians.

234 ~ Inari Jinja (Fox Dump)

 

Japanese Name:  稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Inari Jinja
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Akae Hachimangu
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Akae
Address: 1659 Akaechō, Yasugi-shi, Shimane-ken 692-0001
Coordinates: 35.4264675,133.2219541

A tiny side shrine of the big Akae Hachimangu (赤江八幡宮 "Red Bay Hachiman Hall"). Not only does it feature several stone foxes of various sizes and in various states of decay watching over it, but it also has a rather unusual feature: A dump of tiny porcelain foxes. I wonder what the story behind that is.
 

233 ~ Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Inari Jinja
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Iya Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Iya
Address: 2229 Higashiizumocho Iya, Matsue, Shimane 699-0101
Coordinates: 35.4302918,133.1537858

Another tiny side shrine of Iya Jinja, which is conveniently located right next to the previous one. This one features roughly 5 dozen tiny porcelain foxes, along with three small stone foxes. There's also a pair of tiny Komainu here, which is a rarity: Normally, a shrine is either watched over by either foxes or Komainu, which is probably because foxes and dogs don't really get along.

232 ~ Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Inari Jinja
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Iya Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Iya
Address: 2229 Higashiizumocho Iya, Matsue, Shimane 699-0101
Coordinates: 35.4302918,133.1537858

I am now back on my way to Daisen, and this shrine is located south of an inlet to Nakaumi (中海 "Middle Sea"). It is a side shrine of the big Iya Jinja (揖夜神社  "Assembled at Night Shrine"), where it is located off to one side and up the side of the forested hill, featuring two little stone foxes to watch over it.
 

231 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Ooyamashiro Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-13-30 Nishitsuda, Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken 690-0017
Coordinates: 35.4564143,133.073819

A tiny side shrine of Ooyamashiro Jinja (大山代神社 "Great Mountain Age Shrine"), which features a lonely little stone fox on one side. Though already kinda weathered, it is still in relatively good shape, and wears a friendly expression. The shrine itself is also made from stone, and without a name or any other indication, the presence of this little fox is the only reason why I suspect it might be an Inari shrine.

Incidentally, this is also the final fox shrine that I should find in the city of Matsue, but there's still plenty more to discover, both on this  day, as well as in the greater Matsue and Daisen area. So better get comfortable, because we'll still be in this area for some time.
 

230 ~ Saijou Inarisha

 

Japanese Name:  最上稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Saijou Inarisha
English Translation: Highest Inari Shrine
Size: Small side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 10
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-12 Nishitsuda, Matsue, Shimane 690-0017
Coordinates: 35.4576466,133.0739461

The final foxy side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja, and finally one that has a name of its own again. Eight stone foxes ranging from life-sized to tiny watch over this shrine, along with two tiny porcelain foxes.
 

229 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 18+
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-12 Nishitsuda, Matsue, Shimane 690-0017
Coordinates: 35.4576466,133.0739461

Another tiny side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja. This one features at least 18 tiny porcelain foxes, and there may be more lurking in the shadows. Once again, this is probably an Inari shrine, but there's no clear indication.
 

228 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 5
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-12 Nishitsuda, Matsue, Shimane 690-0017
Coordinates: 35.4576466,133.0739461

The first foxy side shrine of Kaiun Inari Jinja. This one features five tiny stone shrine buildings, along with a few rocks, and five tiny porcelain foxes. Interestingly, those flock all around one of the five buildings, instead of one per building. I assume this is an Inari shrine for the foxes and since it's a side shrine of an Inari shrine, but as so often, I can't be 100% sure.
 

227 BRONZE ~ Kaiun Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  開運稲荷
Romanized Reading: Kaiun Inari Jinja
English Translation: Better Fortune Inari Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 13-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-12 Nishitsuda, Matsue, Shimane 690-0017
Coordinates: 35.4576466,133.0739461

Two days later, I manage to work something out with my host and get my bike repaired, which I had parked at Higashimatsue station. Continuing from the repair shop, I soon come across this fox shrine, which I hope will be true to its name and bring me better fortune on this day.

Four life-sized stone foxes sit watch outside, and two of them  are already badly weathered. Another four tiny porcelain foxes sit safely within the shrine itself. This shrine also boasts a trio of foxy side shrines with enough foxes to earn it the rank of Bronze Fox Shrine.

226 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1209 Chikuyacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0023
Coordinates: 35.4380403,133.1271375

Another nameless tiny foxy side shrine, but this time of a different shrine. This one is the side shrine of an Inari shrine, which along with the four worn and weathered small and tiny stone foxes in front of it gives reason to assume that this one is an Inari shrine as well.

This should also the final fox shrine that I should visit on today's doomed ride. After that, I should go to the nearby Higashimatsue (東松江 "East Pine Bay") station and return to my home base. However, I should be back before long.
 

225 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 301 Yawatacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0025
Coordinates: 35.4409969,133.117004

Another tiny foxy side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu... or is this actually two separate shrines? Anyway, I choose to count these two tiny stones adobes as one shrine for the purposes of this blog. A total of six tiny stone foxes sit watch in front of this shrine, and some of them are badly weathered, missing heads and other appendages. Again, I can only guess from the presence of foxes here that this is probably an Inari shrine.

224 ~ Nameless Shrine

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 301 Yawatacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0025
Coordinates: 35.4409969,133.117004

A tiny side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu, which features two very badly weathered little stone foxes. One of the is missing its head, and the other misses part of its front leg. Since it features foxes and is closed to aforementioned Inarisha, it's probably an Inari Shrine, but there's no explicit indicator of this.
 

223 ~ Inarisha

 

Japanese Name:  稲荷社
Romanized Reading: Inarisha
English Translation: Inari Shrine
Size: Small side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 301 Yawatacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0025
Coordinates: 35.4409969,133.117004

A small foxy side shrine of Hirahama Hachimangu (平濱八幡宮 "Flat River Bank Hachiman Hall"), and not the only one. Three pairs of stone foxes ranging from big to small sit outside, with several dozen more foxes inside, a mix of stone foxes in various sizes and tiny porcelain foxes.

Incidentally, thanks to a notable increase in fox shrine density around these parts, we are now again at a point in time where I am writing about a shrine that I visited exactly 6 years ago.

222 ~ Baba Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  馬場稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Baba Inari Jinja
English Translation: Riding Ground Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takahi Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: Many
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1376 Higashitsudacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0011
Coordinates: 35.4541171,133.0902317

The final vulpine side shrine of Takahi Jinja, featuring (almost) eight times as many foxes than the previous one. I counted 64, but with this many, I may be off by one or two in either direction. Anyway, most of those are tiny porcelain foxes, but there's also a pair of life-sized stone foxes, as well as some smaller stone foxes and two relatively large porcelain foxes the size of the small stone foxes.
 

221 ~ Kitsunemori Koujin

 

Japanese Name:  狐守荒神
Romanized Reading: Kitsunemori Koujin
English Translation: Fox Protector Stove God
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takahi Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 9
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1376 Higashitsudacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0011
Coordinates: 35.4541171,133.0902317

Another fox side shrine found at Takahi Jinja. This one features over eight times as many foxes as the last one. With two life-sized stone foxes and another seven tiny ones, there's a good chance that this tiny shrine is dedicated to Inari, but apart from the foxes there's no indication that I can make out, so I can't be sure.
 

220 ~ Matsubara Soukoujin

 

Japanese Name:  松原総荒神
Romanized Reading: Matsubara Soukoujin
English Translation: Pine Meadow All Stove God
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takahi Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1376 Higashitsudacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0011
Coordinates: 35.4541171,133.0902317

A tiny foxy side shrine of Takahi Jinja (鷹日神社 "Hawk Day Shrine"), one of several, actually, making this particular shrine hill well worth of a visit if you're in the area. This one features only a single tiny porcelain fox and is apparently dedicated to an unspecified deity of the hearth.

219 ~ Mizutama Inari Jinja

Japanese Name:  水玉稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Mizutama Inari Jinja
English Translation: Water Jewel Inari Shrine
Size: Small
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 12
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1379 Higashitsudacho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0011
Coordinates: 35.4544506,133.089618

A fox shrine that I should find while combing the area for a bicycle repair place after incurring a flat tire dozens of kilometers away from by home base. On the plus side, without that flat tire I would have never found this little shrine with its full dozen of foxes of various sizes and in different states of weathering. They're all made of stone and all more or less life-sized.
 

218 ~ Kojinsatsu

 

Japanese Name:  古神札
Romanized Reading: Kojinsatsu
English Translation: Old Divine Tag
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Mefu Jinja
Deity: Inari?/Tree?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 81 Wadamicho, Matsue, Shimane 690-0005
Coordinates: 35.4666045,133.0590001

A Side Shrine of Mefu Jinja (賣布神社 "Sell Linen Shrine") located just south of Oohashigawa, this is a shrine of many open questions. For starters, the name of the shrine may not actually be a name, but a note that this is a place where you can return old Ofuda (お札), which are divine talismans that you can purchase at shrines. They are generally considered to last for a year before they need to be replaced. However, the box below looks more like a standard donation box.

Then, there's a single life-sized stone fox here, which is typical for Inari shrines, but at the same time, there's a divine tree as denoted by the Shimenawa tied around it. So which kind of shrine is this? I suppose I'll never know for sure...
 

217 ~ Funatama Inari Jinja

Japanese Name:  船玉稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Funatama Inari Jinja
English Translation: Ship Jewel Inari Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 5 Chome-59 Higashihonmachi, Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken 690-0842
Coordinates: 35.4698927,133.0611926

A fox shrine not far from the shore of the  relatively short Oohashigawa (大橋川 "Big Bridge River"), which connects the two lakes between which Matsue is located. Though Komainu guard the exterior of the shrine, there's still a quartet of tiny porcelain foxes hiding deep inside. This is unusual, because usually a Shrine features either Komainu as its guardians or foxes, but rarely both.
 

216 ~ Fukutoku Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  福徳稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Fukutoku Inari Jinja
English Translation: Fortune Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Matsue Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 11-Sep-2018
Location: Matsue
Address: 1 Tonomachi, Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken 690-0887
Coordinates: 35.4740339,133.0502997

A tiny side shrine of Matsue Jinja (松江神社 "Pine Bay Shrine"), which is located on the south end of the castle grounds. A pair of weathered old stone foxes watch over this one.