Monday, October 20, 2025

481 ~ Ooiwa Ookami Cluster

 

Japanese Name: 大岩大神
Romanized Reading: Ooiwa Ookami
English Translation: Great Boulder Great Deity
Cluster Size: Small
Deity: ?
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Mitsurugi-no-Taki
Address: 44 Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7877

The easternmost fox shrine cluster of Fushimi Inari that I visited. Past here, the pat was closed on account of the aftermath of Typhoon Jebi, which struck here half a year ago. Apparently, this is one of the more remote paths that has not been repaired yet.

Anyway, this is a pretty small fox shrine cluster with not all that many foxes around. By local standards, at least. It still has way more foxes than most other shrines.
 

Saturday, October 18, 2025

480 ~ Mitsurugi-no-Taki (Camera battery died)

 

Japanese Name: 御劔ノ瀧
Romanized Reading: Mitsurugi-no-Taki
English Translation: Honorable Sword Cascade
Size: Tiny
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Mitsurugi-no-Taki
Address: 44 Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7877

The 118th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the fourth one within the Mitsurugi-no-Taki cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

I used to think there couldn't be such a thing as too much fox shrines. However, that is clearly not true for my camera's battery, which died only three hours into this fox shrine orgy.

So, what now? I'm barely half around the mountain, and there's surely still thousands of fox shrines to find. I still have my phone, but the battery life of that is also limited. And even if it wasn't, I'm reasonably sure that I don't have enough space for all the pictures I would take on there.

Thus, I shift approaches from here on out. Instead of taking pictures of individual shrines, I instead just take one or a few pictures for each cluster, in the understanding that each of them likely contains dozens of fox shrines.

So, from here on out, our pace is going to accelerate a bit (but we're still gonna stay in Kyoto for the rest of the year).

Thursday, October 16, 2025

479 ~ ?nan Daimyoujin


Japanese Name: ?男大明神
Romanized Reading: ?nan Daimyoujin
English Translation: ? Man Great Radiant Deity
Size: Tiny
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Mitsurugi-no-Taki
Address: 44 Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7877

The 117th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the third one within the Mitsurugi-no-Taki cluster. As usual, it is watched over by 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 directly to the right of the previous one, and it looks very old, with moss covering it all over.

The puzzle of its name might be related to that. It's not that I can't make out the first character. It's that no such kanji exists (anymore). It's a 里 with a 亠 on top, kinda like in 裏, but without the lower part. As if it is the missing link between them. If it was 里男, then it would read "Satoo" and mean "Village Man". I consider that to be its most likely name, but I really can't be sure. Have a close-up look here if you like:


 

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

478 ~ Sanrin Ookami, Ebisu Ookami, Shironaga Ookami (and more)


Japanese Names: 三輪大神, 恵比須大神, 白長大神++
Romanized Readings: Sanrin Ookami, Ebisu Ookami, Shironaga Ookami++
English Translations: Three Rings Great Deity, Ebisu Great Deity, White Long Great Deity++
Size: Tiny
Deity: Ebisu
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Mitsurugi-no-Taki
Address: 44 Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7877

The 116th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the second one within the Mitsurugi-no-Taki cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

This shrine is dedicated to Ebisu, god of fishing, and one of the Shijifukujin. 

It also has more names. I wasn't able to decipher them, but if you want to try, here you go! You can also click on the very top image to enlarge it, because some of the names are better legible on that one (still can't figure out what Kanji those are supposed to be though...)


 

 

Monday, October 13, 2025

477 ~ Mitsurugi Ookami, Mitsuyoshi Ookami, Fujiyoshi Ookami (Mitsurug-no-Taki Cluster Start)

 

Japanese Names: 御劔大神, 三芳大神, 藤芳大神
Romanized Readings: Mitsurugi Ookami, Mitsuyoshi Ookami, Fujiyoshi Ookami
English Translations: Honorable Sword Great Deity, Three Perfumes Great Deity, Wisteria Perfume Great Deity
Size: Tiny
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Mitsurugi-no-Taki
Address: 44 Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9654,135.7877

The 115th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the first one within the Mitsurugi-no-Taki (御劔ノ瀧 "Honorable Sword Cascade") cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

Saturday, October 11, 2025

476 ~ Kasha Ookami, Komeko Ookami, Kinkou Ookami

 

Japanese Names: 火車大神, 米子大神, 金光大神
Romanized Readings: Kasha Ookami, Komeko Ookami, Kinkou Ookami
English Translations: Fiery Chariot Great Deity, Rice Child Great Deity, Golden Light Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 114th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the ninth and last one within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes. I assume that the left one is holding a scroll, and the right one an orb, but I only have the one picture of this shrine, and I can't see the foxes' heads on it, so I can't be sure.

 

Friday, October 10, 2025

475 ~ Takayama Ookami, Shiragiku Ookami, Hakushin Ookami (and more)

 

Japanese Names: 高山大神, 白菊大神, 白心大神++
Romanized Readings: Takayama Ookami, Shiragiku Ookami, Hakushin Ookami++
English Translations: Tall Mountain Great Deity, White Chrysanthemum Great Deity, White Heart Great Deity++
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 113th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the eight within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

It has two more names, and while this time around I can see the lines engraved into the Iwakura clearly, I still can't figure out which Kanji they belong to. They are the names on the left and right Iwakura respectively. You can click on the image at the top for a close up, if you want to try to decipher them.

 

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

474 ~ Hachikou Ryuuou, Shiragiku Ookami, Kumataka Ookami

 

Japanese Names: 八高龍王, 白菊大神, 熊鷹大神
Romanized Readings: Hachikou Ryuuou, Shiragiku Ookami, Kumataka Ookami
English Translations: Eight Tall Dragon Kings, White Chrysanthemum Great Deity, Hawk-Eagle Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi, inside Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 112th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the seventh within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.


Tuesday, October 7, 2025

473 ~ Shirakami Ookami, Shiratake Ookami, Wakamatsu Ookami, Kumataka Ookami

 

Japanese Names: 白髪大神, 白武大神, 若枩大神, 熊高大神
Romanized Readings: Shirakami Ookami, Shiratake Ookami, Wakamatsu Ookami, Kumataka Ookami
English Translations: White Hair Great Deity, White Warrior Great Deity, Young Pine Great Deity, Bear Height Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 111th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the sixth within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. As usual, it is watched over by a pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

 

Monday, October 6, 2025

472 ~ Shiragiku Ookami (again)

 

Japanese Name: 白菊大神
Romanized Reading: Shiragiku Ookami
English Translation: White Chrysanthemum Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 110th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the fifth within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. This one is located directly to the right of the previous one, and is in fact inside of the "outer gate" with the two slender foxes. It has its own pair of life-sized stone foxes, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

 

Saturday, October 4, 2025

471 ~ Shiragiku Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 白菊大神
Romanized Reading: Shiragiku Ookami
English Translation: White Chrysanthemum Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 109th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the fourth within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. Two pairs of life-sized stone foxes watch over this one, which makes this the first shrine with more than two foxes in a while. The outer pair is more sleek and slender, with almost dragon-like necks, while the inner pair has more normal proportions. In both pairs, the left fox holds a scroll, and the right one holds an orb.

 

Thursday, October 2, 2025

470 ~ Shironaga Ookami, Hakusei Ookami, Shirayoshi Ookami (and more)

 

Japanese Names: 白長大神, 白清大神, 白吉大神++
Romanized Readings: Shironaga Ookami, Hakusei Ookami, Shirayoshi Ookami++
English Translations: White Long Great Deity, White Pure Great Deity, White Luck Great Deity++
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 108th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the third within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. The usual pair of life-sized stone foxes watch over this one, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

This one has more names still, but I wasn't able to decipher all of them. However, I am at the very least able to discern one peculiar curiosity: All but one of them start with 白 (Shiro = "White"). If you want to try and decipher them, here's a closeup.


 

 

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

469 ~ Shiki Ookami

 

Japanese Name: 白姫大神
Romanized Reading: Shiki Ookami
English Translation: White Princess Great Deity
Size: Tiny Side shrine in the Happyakuman Ookami cluster
Deity: ?
Fox Count: 2
First Visit: 25-Dec-2018
Location: Kyoto-Fushimi
Address: Fukakusa Gokurakuji Yamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0813
Coordinates
: 34.9650,135.7875

The 107th vulpine side shrine of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the second within the Happyakuman Ookami cluster. The usual pair of life-sized stone foxes watch over this one, with the left one holding a scroll, and the right one holding an orb.

 

481 ~ Ooiwa Ookami Cluster

  Japanese Name : 大岩大神 Romanized Reading : Ooiwa Ookami English Translation : Great Boulder Great Deity Cluster Size : Small Deity : ? First...