527 ~ Aidsuchi Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 合槌稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Aidsuchi Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: Fit Mallet Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Higashiyama
Address: 196 Nakanocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0034
Coordinates: 35.00976,135.78409

I'm back inside urban Kyoto by now. Getting to this shrine is kinda tricky, since it is hidden in a tight block of houses. The entranceway is at the big road at the south and is pretty well visible. From there, the way snakes through houses for long enough to make you doubt whether you've got lost. But in the end, you emerge in front of this tiny shrine with six tiny porcelain foxes to watch over it.

The term "Aidsuchi", by the way, refers to a cultural habit of Japanese people: While someone is talking - especially over the phone - it is customary to make little confirming sounds like "un" every few seconds to indicate you're still paying attention.

526 ~ Kanda Inari Ookami

Japanese Name: 神田稲荷大神
Romanized Reading: Kanda Inari Ookami
English Translation: Divine Field Inari Great Deity
Size: Small
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Yamashina
Address: 27-1 Hinookaissaikyōdanichō, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto, 607-8491
Coordinates: 35.00580,135.79533

My trek up the side of Daimonjiyama (大文字屋 "Great Letter Mountain") results in me finding a bunch of shrines and temples, but it is only after I return to the city further to the south that I come across a fox shrine again. This one is located just outside Himukai Daijingu (日向大神宮 "Sunny Place Great God's Hall"), and features a pair of weathered old life-sized stone foxes to watch over it.
 

525 ~ Juka Inari Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 樹下稲荷大明神
Romanized Reading: Juka Inari Daimyoujin
English Translation: Under a Tree Inari Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Hachi Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 24 Ginkakujicho, Sakyou Ward, Kyoto, 606-8402
Coordinates: 35.02834,135.79733

Approaching the hills at the eastern side of Kyoto, I come across a shrine named Hachi Jinja (八神社 "Eight Shrine"), which despite its name contains only two Side Shrines. One of them is this one, and a pair of tiny porcelain foxes watch over it.
 

524 ~ Takeharu Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 竹春大神
Romanized Reading: Takeharu Ookami
English Translation: Bamboo Spring Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The seventh and final vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja, and another bamboo shrine to boot. A single tiny porcelain fox watches over this shrine, all alone, next to a sacrificial sake bowl.
 

523 ~ Yakuriki Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 薬力大明神
Romanized Reading: Yakuriki Daimyoujin
English Translation: Medicine Potency Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0251,135.78660

The sixth vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja.With its red fence and Torii it has a clearly defined "supernatural border", making it stand out among the side shrines here. Two tiny porcelain foxes watch over it.

522 ~ Takeshige Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 竹重神社
Romanized Reading: Takeshige Ookami
English Translation: Bamboo Heavy Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The fifth vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja. A tiny and kinda lopsided shrine with a single tiny porcelain fox residing within. Also, I think I'm beginning to see a pattern emerge here. Lots of bamboo shrines in this area.
 

521 ~ Takeda Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 竹田大明神
Romanized Reading: Takeda Daimyoujin
English Translation: Bamboo Field Great Radiant Deity
Size: Small side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1.5
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The fourth vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja. This one has a proper little room where you can stand under. It also features one whole tiny porcelain fox, and a second one that has not been all that lucky. At least they're still together.
 

520 ~ Iseharu Daimyoujin (and more)

 

Japanese Name: 伊勢春大明神, 伊勢？大明神+
Romanized Reading: Iseharu Daimyoujin, Ise? Daimyoujin+
English Translation: That One Power Spring Great Radiant Deity, That One Power ? Great Radiant Deity+ 
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The third vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja. This one has two more names, but the one on the left Iwakura is completely obscured by a branch, and on the one on the right I can't make out one of the Kanji. What I can clearly make out, though, is the one lonely life-sized stone fox sitting in front of the shrine to the right, while the left pedestal is empty.

519 ~ Takemizu Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 竹水大明神
Romanized Reading: Takemizu Daimyoujin
English Translation: Bamboo Water Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 1
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The third vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja. A lonely tiny porcelain fox sits here, sipping on what I think is a small cup of Sake.

518 ~ Shiragiku Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Name: 白菊大明神
Romanized Reading: Shiragiku Daimyoujin
English Translation: White Chrysanthemum Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.0252,135.7867

The second vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja, and the first in a row of tiny fox shrines. This one features a pair of tiny porcelain foxes.
 

517 ~ Taketsurugi Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 竹釼稲荷神社 
Romanized Reading: Taketsurugi Inari Jinja
English Translation: Bamboo Sword Inari Shrine
Size: Small side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.02524,135.78673

The first vulpine side shrine of Takenaka Inari Jinja, and the biggest one too. This one features seven tiny porcelain foxes (haven't had those in a while) as well as a small-to-life-sized one that I think is made of stone, all residing within this little shrine in the woods.
 

516 SILVER ~ Takenaka Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 竹中稲荷神社 
Romanized Reading: Takenaka Inari Jinja
English Translation: Bamboo Middle Inari Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 3-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Sakyou
Address: 3-64 Yoshidakaguraokacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8311
Coordinates: 35.02488,135.78667

We're barely out of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and already I'm getting sucked into the next major fox shrine compound. I was actually just walking along the Imadegawa Douri (今出川通り "Now Exiting Stream Road") when I noticed a big red Torii at the foot of a hill on the south of the road. Naturally drawn to it, I crossed the road and walked through the forest for a bit, and found myself at this shrine.

The main shrine already has six foxes to watch over it, and it also features a total of 16 side shrines, half of which have foxes on their own. Not nearly as many as Fushimi Inari Taisha, but still more than in some other cities that I visited combined. 

 

515 ~ Shinguu Jinja

 

Japanese Name: 新宮神社
Romanized Reading: Shunguu Jinja
English Translation: Newly Constructed Shrine Shrine
Size: Medium
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 1-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Minami
Address: 24 Higashikujo Higashigoryocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8028
Coordinates: 34.97909,135.76352

Another year, another story. We now leave Inariyama behind, although you can still see its lower slopes to the bottom right of the map.

This is a shrine in the middle of Kyoto. Ironically, despite it's name, it is a thousand years old. Two fox statues reside within.

514 ~ Gosha no Taki Cluster

 

Japanese Name: 五社之瀧神社
Romanized Reading: Gosha no Taki Jinja
English Translation: Five Shrines Cascade Shrine
Cluster Size: Small
Deity: ?
First Visit: 1-Jan-2019
Location: Kyoto-Higashiyama  
Address: 17-1 Imakumano Minamidanicho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0979
Coordinates: 34.97540,135.77875

Located at the foot of Inariyama and hidden behind a row of houses, accessible only through a small side road, there's this little fox shrine cluster, which is also the final fox shrine cluster that I should find during my visit to Kyoto. It is also located at the shore of a tiny nameless stream that runs all the way from the summit of Inariyama. In fact, a number of other clusters are named after other waterfalls in this stream, or lie next to it, such as Kiyotaki, Yakuriki-no-Taki in the Mitsurugisha Cluster and the Harushige Ookami Cluster.

Anyway, many foxes watch over this one, illuminated by lanterns and candles.
 

513 ~ Kiyotaki Cluster (Fushimi Inari Taisha End)

 

Japanese Name: 清瀧
Romanized Reading: Kiyotaki
English Translation: Pure Cascade
Cluster Size: Medium
Deity: ?
First Visit: 1-Jan-2019
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Yamashina Sandou
Address: 0804 612 Inariyamakanyuchi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0804
Coordinates: 34.97113 135.78452

This fox shrine cluster is a hidden gem. It's not somewhere that most people usually walk. Located on the Yamashina Sandou (山科参道 "Mountain Section Shrine Approach Road"), it lies about 150m off the Torii road. I only found it because I was so determined to walk a different way back home that I didn't care that it took me through the dark midnight forest for more than half a kilometer. Then again, a fox alone at night on the holy mountain... what could possibly go wrong?

This is also the final shrine that I would consider to be part of Fushimi Inari Taisha that I visited... for now. But Kyoto still has many more fox shrines to offer all over the city.

512 ~ Kasasugisha Cluster

 

Japanese Name: 傘杉社
Romanized Reading: Kasasugisha
English Translation: Umbrella Cedar Shrine
Cluster Size: Small
Deity: ?
First Visit: 1-Jan-2019
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Torii Road Loop Segment
Address: 21-18 Inariyamakanyuchi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0804
Coordinates: 34.9694,135.7856

The first fox shrine cluster I should come across in this new year. This one is on a branching length of the Torii Road Loop Segment that I didn't walk on my first loop. There's only a few fox shrines here, but they are comparably big. You might also say they have more space. Or the fox population density is lower. Whichever suits your tail.
 

511 ~ Ninomine Cluster + Hatsumoude

 

Japanese Names: 二ノ峰, 中之社神蹟, 青木大神
Romanized Readings: Ninomine, Nakanosha Shinseki, Aoki Ookami
English Translations: Second Peak, Middle Shrine Divine Remnants, Blue Tree Great Deity
Cluster Size: Medium
Deity: ?
First Visit: 31-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Torii Road Loop Segment
Address: 14 Inariyamakanyuchi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0804
Coordinates: 34.9672,135.7840

The final new fox shrine cluster that I should find this year, but not the last one of this night. This is the last cluster before the absolute peak of Inariyama, where I should go for my Hatsumoude.

A lot of people are standing in line at the central shrine of Ichinomine Kamisha.

 

I see no reason to get in line, since there are dozens of tiny fox shrines all around that for some reason no one pays attention to. So come midnight, I go to one of those - one my heart feels drawn to - and say my prayers for the new year at this tiny shrine, here at the peak of Inariyama.

What did I wish for? Well, it's nothing that has come true since. And I'm not telling.
 

 

510 ~ Ainomine Cluster

 

Japanese Names: 間ノ峰, 荷田社神蹟, 伊勢大神
Romanized Readings: Ainomine, Kadasha Shinseki, Ise Ookami
English Translations: Intervall Peak, Cargo Field Shrine Divine Remnants, Ise Great Deity
Cluster Size: Small
Deity: ?
First Visit: 31-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Torii Road Loop Segment
Address: 13 Inariyamakanyuchi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0804
Coordinates: 34.96704 135.78299

Located on the peak between the second and third peak, there's this small cluster of a few fox shrines by the wayside. There's no concentric circles here, and the entire cluster is almost completely hidden in the woods.
 

509 ~ Sannomine Cluster

 

Japanese Names: 三ノ峰, 下之社神蹟, 白菊大神
Romanized Readings: San-no-Mine, Shi-no-Sha Shinseki, Shiragiku Ookami
English Translations: Third Peak, Lower Shrine Divine Remnants, White Chrysanthemum Great Deity
Cluster Size: Medium
Deity: ?
First Visit: 31-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Torii Road Loop Segment
Address: 12 Inariyamakanyuchi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0804
Coordinates: 34.9679,135.7823

Continuing south from Yotsuji, I am now on the part of the loop segment that I did not visit before. Here, there's a row of "Peak Shrine Clusters" built on and all around local peaks of the mountain. The result is a chain of concentric fox shrine clusters.

 

508 ~ Kumatakasha Cluster (Candles)

Japanese Name: 熊鷹社 
Romanized Reading: Kumatakasha
English Translation: Hawk Eagle Shrine
Cluster Size: Small
Deity: ?
First Visit: 31-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Inariyama, Torii Road Lower Leg Segment
Address: Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0805
Coordinates: 34.96836,135.77860

Another fox shrine cluster next to Araike, near its northern end. This one features a number of burning candles that come across really nicely in the dark of the night.
 

507 ~ Kasou Ookami Cluster

 

Japanese Name: 高倉大神
Romanized Reading: Takakura Ookami
English Translation: High Storehouse Great Deity
Cluster Size: Big
Deity: ?
First Visit: 31-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Torii Road Lower Leg Segment
Address: Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0805
Coordinates: 34.9679,135.7784

Did you think we were done with the fox shrine clusters? Well, wrong! At the night of the new year, I climb Inariyama for Hatsumoude (初詣 "First Shrine Visit"), and I am not the only one. In fact, despite it being the middle of the night, it's outright crowded. Outside the main shrine of Fushimi Inari, the queue goes all the way back to the station, then around the corner, and several blocks down the road.

Meanwhile, I climb Inariyama again, all the way to the summit. This time, I'm taking a different route, and as such also find new fox shrine clusters along the way. This one is one of two clusters located on the shore of Araike (新池 "New Pond"). It's dark, but the majority of the many fox shrines here is illuminated.
 

 

506 ~ Sanba Inari

 

Japanese Name: 産場稲荷
Romanized Reading: Sanba Inari
English Translation: Childbirth Place Inari
Size: Small Side Shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Fukakusa Kaidocho
Address: Fukakusa Kaidocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0806
Coordinates: 34.96850,135.77377

Due to how Japanese works, this one is actually pronounced "Samba Inari". It is located in a backyard, accessible through a small alley between two houses at the entrance of Kaidoguchicho.

This is also the last shrine that I should document today. I'm sure I visited several more, but due to the sheer mass of the fox shrines around Fushimi Inari Taisha, I'm sure that quite a number of them have slipped through the cracks.

Anyway, I'll be back in this area! And sooner rather than later!

505 ~ Hachireisha (Zodiac)

 

Japanese Name: 八霊社
Romanized Reading: Hachireisha
English Translation: Eight Souls Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 6
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho
Address: 5-43 Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0805, Japan
Coordinates: 34.96863,135.77422

A tiny-to-small open-air shrine that features all the twelve animals of the zodiac. Of these, the dog of the fading year and the boar of the coming year are prominently positioned in the front. Also, there's a total of six small-to-tiny foxes to be found here.
 

504 ~ Gosha Ookami Cluster

 

Japanese Names: 五社大神, 正吉大神
Romanized Readings: Gosha Ookami, Shouyoshi Ookami
English Translations: Five Shrines Great Deity, Correct Luck Great Deity
Cluster Size: Big
Deity: ?
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Fushimi Inari, Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho
Address: Fukakusa Kaidoguchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0805
Coordinates: 34.9692,135.7749

This is the final fox shrine cluster that I should find today (though not the final fox shrine), and it's of decent size, with many foxes inside.

It is located almost directly next to the Inari Houikuen (稲荷保育園 "Inari Kindergarten"). And there's also an elementary school somewhere around as this cute note attests.

I wonder how my life would have gone if I'd been born and raised here? Odds are I'd be a priest at Fushimi Inari now.