Wednesday, July 23, 2025

424 ~ Aokigataki Side Shrine (Aokigataki Cluster Start)

 

Japanese Name: ??大神
Romanized Reading: ? Ookami
English Translation: ? Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Aokigataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9644, 135.7834

The 62nd vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the first within the Aogataki (青木ヶ瀧 "Blue Tree Waterfall") cluster. There are probably a lot more fox shrines inside - probably enough to make it a supercluster - but unfortunately, entry to the inner area is prohibited to all but worshipers. You're also not allowed to take pictures, smoke or... pee... inside. Interesting combination.

Anyway, there's still over a dozen fox shrines on the outside that are accessible via the path that we walk. Of those, this is the first one, which features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

423 ~ Omoshi Ookami (Kobogataki End)

 

Japanese Name: 重氏大神
Romanized Reading: Omoshi Ookami
English Translation: Heavy Clan Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809


The 61st vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 54th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the eight in the latter's southern area. This is also finally the last shrine within Kobogataki, which makes this the biggest concentration of fox shrines I've encountered... thus far.

As usual, this one features the a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb. Also, if you're in the area, there's also another shrine not far to the southwest called Myoubutaki (命婦瀧 "High-Ranking Court Lady Waterfall"), which may or may not be another supercluster. At the very least it also has foxes, although I didn't visit it in person.

Monday, July 21, 2025

422 ~ Takahime Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 鷹姫大神
Romanized Reading: Takahime Ookami
English Translation: Hawk Princess Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 60th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 53rd within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the seventh in the latter's southern area. As usual, this one features the a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

421 ~ Goso Ookami, Shiragiku Ookami, Guhou Ookami (Kobogataki Front Entrance)

 

Japanese Names: 御祖大神, 白菊大神, 弘法大神
Romanized Readings: Goso Ookami, Shiragiku Ookami, Guhou Ookami
English Translations: Honorable Ancestor Great Deity, White Chrysanthemum Great Deity, Spreading Buddhist Teachings Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 59th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 52nd within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the sixth in the latter's southern area. This one again features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

It is also the fox shrine closest to Kobogataki's roadside entrance, which is rather inconspicuous. You can see it in the top left image.
 

Thursday, July 17, 2025

420 ~ Fukue Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 福永大神
Romanized Reading: Fukue Ookami
English Translation: Fortune Eternal Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 58th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 51st within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the fifth in the latter's southern area. This one has only a single life-sized stone fox to the right. There's a pedestal for a matching fox to the left, but apparently, that one has gone on vacation. Or strike. Who knows?

Anyway, that makes this one of only two shrines in the entire Kobogataki supercluster to only feature a single fox (the other one being 388 ~ Gyokuki Ookami, Kanataka Ookami (and more)).

Also, I can't help but notice how this shrine's name sounds like a sibling to the previous one (Sakae and Fukue), which is located directly to the left. I wonder if that's intentional.

 

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

419 ~ Sakae Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 盛大神
Romanized Reading: Sakae Ookami
English Translation: Prosperous Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 57th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 50th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the fourth in the latter's southern area. As usual, this one features a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

This one is one of the rare short-name shrines with only three characters in its name. Four is the norm, with most shrines going by ??神社 or ??大神, followed by five for ??大明神, and then longer names. Three characters are rare, but sometimes happen in the form of ??社, or more rarely ?神社 or - like here - ?大神. Two-character shrine names are even shorter, and take forms like  ?神. And that's the lower limit.

 

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

418 ~ Shiitami Ookami, Suehiro Ookami

 

Japanese Names: 椎太未大神, 末廣大神
Romanized Readings: Shiitami Ookami, Suehiro Ookami
English Translations: Chinquapin Fat Tip Great Deity, Spacious Tip Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 57th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 50th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the fourth in the latter's southern area. As usual, this one features a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb. 

This one is located near the very edge of the supercluster, with the bamboo forest plainly in view. Also, in case you're wandering what in he world of Dragon a Chinquapin is: It's an Asian evergreen tree (see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanopsis). 

Monday, July 14, 2025

417 ~ Osahime Ryuuou

 

Japanese Name: 長姫龍王
Romanized Reading: Osahime Ryuuou
English Translation: Long Princess Dragon King
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 56th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 49th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the third in the latter's southern area. As usual, this one features a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb. 

Also, this one looks rather new, and at least the upper parts (representing the last names) of the sponsor names are clearly legible. To the right, we have 山本 (Yamamoto = "Mountain Origin") twice, and to the left we have Nakagawa (中川 "Middle River") once, both of which are common Japanese last names.
 

Saturday, July 12, 2025

416 ~ Koumori Ookami, Yakukou Daimyoujin, Fukuoo Daimyoujin

 

Japanese Names: 光森大神, 薬光大明神, 福王大明神
Romanized Readings: Koumori Ookami, Yakukou Daimyoujin, Fukuoo Daimyoujin
English Translations: Light Forest Great Deity, Medicine Light Great Radiant Deity, Fortune King Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 55th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 48th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the second in the latter's southern area. This one again features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb. 

Thursday, July 10, 2025

415 ~ Kitsutaka Ookami (Kobogataki Southern Area Start)

 

Japanese Name: 吉高大神
Romanized Reading: Kitsutaka Ookami
English Translation: Luck Tall Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7809

The 54th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 47th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the first in the latter's southern area. This part of Kobogataki is closer to the surrounding forest. Also, this shrine stands out in that for the first time, it doesn't feature a pair of life-sized stone foxes, but rather a pair of tiny white porcelain foxes to watch over it.
 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

414 ~ Goken Ookami, Tamakichi Ookami, Shiragami Ookami, Fukuichi Ookami, Tamamai Ookami, Tamamitsuryoku Ookami (and more)

 

Japanese Names: 御釼大神, 玉吉大神, 白神大神, 福一大神, 玉米大神, 玉光力大神++
Romanized Readings: Goken Ookami, Tamakichi Ookami, Shiragami Ookami, Fukuichi Ookami, Tamamai Ookami, Tamamitsuryoku Ookami++
English Translations: Honorable Sword Great Deity, Jewel Luck Great Deity, White Deity Great Deity, Fortunate One Great Deity, Jewel Rice Great Deity, Jewel Light Strength Great Deity++
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810

The 53rd vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 46th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 22nd and final one in the latter's eastern area. It is also the last of the three shrines here that features four foxes instead of the usual two. The outer pair is the usual pair of life sized stone foxes, while the inner pair is significantly smaller, but also made of stone. Also, the left ones bold hold a scroll, and the right ones both hold an orb.

In addition, this shrine features two porcelain pots fashioned after Nyoi Houju (如意宝珠 "Wish-Fulfilling Jewel"), which are prominent symbols of Inari faith.
 

Monday, July 7, 2025

413 ~ Koukichi Ookami Sanou Ookami Kouichi Ookami (and more)

 

Japanese Names: 高吉大神, 三王大神, 高一大神++
Romanized Readings: Koukichi Ookami, Sanou Ookami, Kouichi Ookami++
English Translations: High Luck Great Deity, Three Kings Great Deity, High First Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810

The 52nd vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 45th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 21st in the latter's eastern area. It features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

It's second name might also mean "First year in high school great deity", because  高一 is an abbreviation for the first year in high school. Also, this shrine has several more names, but a combination of inopportune fox and/or Torii positioning as well as weathered Iwakura make them hard to read. If you feel like giving it a go, here's the hi-res version of above image. I also took a close-up of the pickup-Torii, but that one ended up too blurry to make out anything but shapes, so I won't post it here.


 

Saturday, July 5, 2025

412 ~ Incomplete Name Shrine

 


Japanese Names: ?天大龍神, ?大明神, ?郎大明神, ?福大龍神
Romanized Readings: ?ten Dairyuujin, ? Daimyoujin, ?rou Daimyoujin, ?fuku Dairyuujin
English Translations: ? Heaven Great Dragon Deity, ? Great Radiant Deity, ? Son Great Radiant Deity, ? Fortune Great Dragon Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810

The 51st vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 44th within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 20th in the latter's eastern area. It features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

The problem with this shrine's names is that the red wooden Torii stand so close in front of the Iwakura that they obscure the names, so only the last three or four Kanji of each shrine are visible. Parts of the Kanji are also visible above, but it's not enough for me to puzzle together the full names. If you feel like giving it a try, here are the original pictures.




 

Thursday, July 3, 2025

411 ~ Hirata Ookami, Kouhou Ookami, Ishigaki Ookami

 

Japanese Names: 平田大神, 光方大神, 石垣大神
Romanized Readings: Hirata Ookami, Kouhou Ookami, Ishigaki Ookami
English Translations: Flat Field Great Deity, Light Direction Great Deity, Stone Wall Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810

The 50th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 43rd within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 19th in the latter's eastern area. It features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

If things feel like they're getting a little bit repetitive at this point, that is because they are. I didn't think there could be such a thing as too many fox shrines, but this place comes damn close, to the point that I feat I'm risking a sensory overload where I'll just collapse amidst this mass of spiritual vulpinity, twitching and grinning like a madman. =^,~'=
 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

410 ~ Konparu Ookami, Asateru Daimyoujin, Kunitama Daimyoujin, Mukoyoshi Daimyoujin (and more)

 

Japanese Names: 金春大神, 朝照大明神, 國玉大明神, 向吉大明神+
Romanized Readings: Konparu Ookami, Asateru Daimyoujin, Kunitama Daimyoujin, Mukoyoshi Daimyoujin+
English Translations: Gold Spring Great Deity, Morning Shine Great Radiant Deity, Country Jewel Great Radiant Deity, Beyond Luck Great Radiant Deity+
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810

The 49th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 42nd within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 18th in the latter's eastern area. It features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

It has one more name, but I was unable to decipher it. If you feel lucky, you can try to make it out in this high-res version (click to enlarge). It's the one on the middle Iwakura in the back.


Tuesday, July 1, 2025

409 ~ Midayatsushima Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 乱八ツ嶋大神
Romanized Reading: Midayatsushima Ookami
English Translation: Riot Eight Islands Shrine Great Deity
Size: Tiny side shrine of Kobogataki within Fushimi Inari Taisha
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: 27 Fukakusa Sasayamachō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0811
Coordinates
: 34.9655, 135.7810


The 48th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the 41st within the Kobogataki supercluster, and the 17th in the latter's eastern area. It features the usual pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

While I am certain about the Kanji (and Katakana) that make up this shrine's name, I'm not sure about it's pronunciation - especially not the initial 乱. So if anyone has a better idea of how this one is pronounced, please let me know in the comments.


 

424 ~ Aokigataki Side Shrine (Aokigataki Cluster Start)

  Japanese Name : ??大神 Romanized Reading : ? Ookami English Translation : ? Great Deity Size : Tiny side shrine of Aokigataki within Fushimi...