Sunday, December 29, 2024

292 ~ Umewakasha

Japanese Name:  梅若社
Romanized Reading: Umewakasha
English Translation: Plum Youth Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 23
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.59748,130.37680

The fifth vulpine side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja. This one holds the record of most foxes, with almost two dozen tiny porcelain foxes present at this tiny shrine. Granted, that is nothing compared to the uncountable number of foxes back at Jouzan Inari Jinja and its side shrines, but in exchange, Magotarou Inari Jinja has just so many side shrines all around, each with at least one fox to watch over them.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

291 ~ Shiraga Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name:  白髪稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Shiraga Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: White Hair Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 3
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.59749,130.37680

The fourth vulpine side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja. This one is home to one porcelain fox that is big enough to be called small, as well as two tiny ones. It also clearly bears the emblem of Inari in addition to its name.
 

Thursday, December 26, 2024

290 ~ Chiyohime Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name:  千代姫大明神
Romanized Reading: Chiyohime Daimyoujin
English Translation: Thousand Ages Princess Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.597503,130.37680

The third vulpine side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja, located right next to the previous one. This one only features two tiny porcelain foxes, and is not an Inari shrine by name, but the symbology displayed makes it highly likely that this is one.
 

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

289 ~ Side Shrine of Magoraou Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 14
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.59751,130.37681

The second vulpine side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja. If memory serves correctly, this is the first of several nameless shrines located at the back of the main shrine. Seven tiny porcelain foxes flank this tiny shrine on either side.
 

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

288 ~ Araki Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  荒木稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Araki Inari Jinja
English Translation: Rough Wood Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny side shrine of Magotarou Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.59751,130.37686

The first vulpine side shrine of Magatarou Inari Jinja, located right next to the main shrine. Two tiny porcelain foxes sit in front of the wooden shrine, and another two sit in a tiny stone abode right next to it.

Note that the location map and coordinates, for the side shrines is probably gonna get more inaccurate as I cover more of the many side shrines here. There's just so many shrines on such a small space here, so I actually have a bit of a "trees in a forest" problem here. But I'll try to make it is accurate as possible with the material that I have.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

287 GOLDEN ~ Magotarou Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  孫太郎稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Magotarou Inari Jinja
English Translation: Fat Descendant Son Inari Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 25-Oct-2018
Location: Fukuoka-Chuuou
Address: 13-10 Nishikōen, Chūō-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 810-0061
Coordinates
: 33.59748,130.37684

If I thought that Kurose Jinja had just made my day fox-shrine wise, then this shrine atop that very same hill should prove me wrong. In fact, there's a little foot path leading right up to this shrine from Kurose Jinja, which is how I found it and its many vulpine side shrines. The main shrine itself is already off to a good start, featuring two life-sized stone foxes outside, and another six slightly smaller foxes inside. Four of these are remarkably white porcelain foxes, which makes them rather big for their kind (but still not as big as the ones I saw back in Tokyo at Kiryu Inari Jinja). Anyway, this is the fifth golden fox shrine I encountered on my journey so far, and should remain the only one that is not located on Honshu.
 

Friday, December 20, 2024

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.


 

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

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!



Sunday, December 15, 2024

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.
 

Saturday, December 14, 2024

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.
 

Friday, December 13, 2024

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".

Thursday, December 12, 2024

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.
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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.
 


Saturday, December 7, 2024

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.


Friday, December 6, 2024

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.
 

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

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.
 

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

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.

Monday, December 2, 2024

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.

296 ~ Ootake Daimyoujin, Ootani Daimyoujin, Shiroki Daimyoujin, Hashiga Daimyoujin, Iwami Daimyoujin

Japanese Names :  大竹大明神, 大谷大明神, 白木大明神, 走賀大明神, 岩三大明神 Romanized Reading : Ootake Daimyoujin, Ootani Daimyoujin, Shiroki Daimyoujin, Hashiga Da...