94 ~ Hikawa Jinja (Side Shrine)

 

Japanese Name:  ?
Romanized Reading: ?
English Translation: ?
Size: Tiny Side Shrine (of Hikawa Jinja)
Deity: Inari?
Fox Count: 25
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Bunkyo
Address: 2 Chome-10-10 Sengoku, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0011

One of two tiny side shrines of Hikawa Jinja (簸川神社 "Winnowing River Shrine"), neither of which features a name of its own. The many foxes on this one probably mean it's an Inari shrine, but since this shrine doesn't feature an emblem I can't be sure.

Interestingly, Hikawa Jinja features both a front and a back entrance. The front entrance is actually better hidden and contains quite a long stairway that emerges near the corner of the nearby botanical garden. The back entrance, meanwhile, is level and connects directly to a small side street. There isn't even  a Torii there, but a small billboard as well as the telltale roof advertises this as a shrine, which is what drew me in.

93 ~ Kosodate Inari Jinja (+Links)

 

Japanese Name:  子育稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Kosodate Inari Jinja
English Translation: Parenting Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine (of Sugamo Ootori Jinja)
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 4
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Bunkyo
Coordinates: 35.7299116,139.7402618

Again, here's a shrine where I am not sure about whether to count this one as a Side Shrine of Sugamo Ootori Jinja (巣鴨大鳥神社 "Nest Duck Great Bird Shrine") or its own place. Regardless, there's a quartet of foxes watching over this little place.

By the way, here's some maybe interesting websites that I came across while trying to figure out if this was a side shrine or its own place:

• A map of many shrines in the greater Tokyo area, it's in Japanese, but locations are still locations: http://www.tokyo-jinjacho.or.jp/jinja/map/
  
• A multilingual shrine schematic with descriptions of the various structures found at shrines: http://www.tokyo-jinjacho.or.jp/keidai_map/

92 ~ Hiyoshi Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  日吉稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Hiyoshi Inari Jinja
English Translation: Lucky Day Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine (of Komagomehie Jinja)
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 9
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Toshima
Address: 1 Chome-30-12 Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tōkyō-to 170-0003

A tiny side shrine of Komagomehie Jinja (駒込日枝神社 "Bunch of Ponies Day Branch Shrine"), that features a bunch of foxes hiding in the shade of rocks and a tree. This is also my fox first shrine in Tokyo's Toshima-ku (豊島区 "Bountiful Island Ward") that I should very briefly touch at this point.

91 ~ Fushimi Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  伏見稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Fushimi Inari Jinja
English Translation: Prostrated Hopes Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny Side Shrine (of Tabata Hachiman Jinja)
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 11
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Kita
Address: 2 Chome-7-2 Tabata, Kita-ku, Tōkyō-to 114-0014

A foxy side shrine of Tabata Hachiman Jinja (田端八幡神社 "Field Edge Hachiman Shrine"), and my first shrine in Tokyo's Kita-Ku (北区 "North Ward"). This shrine is more akin to a little wild garden, complete with flowers and bushes, and many of the foxes here show signs of wear, such as broken-off muzzles and tails. The shrine itself, meanwhile, is hewn from crude rock, which nicely completes the overall rugged feel of this place.

In fact, it is not entirely unlikely that this was done on purpose, since the Japanese also value the beauty of imperfection. The word for that is Wabi-Sabi (侘寂 "Proud Loneliness"), and it describes a worldview or aesthetic principle that finds beauty in the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete nature of things. It celebrates authenticity, simplicity, and the passage of time, appreciating the beauty found in natural objects, weathered materials, and the transient moments of life.

In art, design, and everyday life, Wabi-Sabi encourages an acceptance of flaws, asymmetry, and irregularities, embracing the unique character and history of objects or experiences. This concept is deeply ingrained in traditional Japanese culture and continues to influence various aspects of Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, including shrines such as this one.

90 ~ Kouryou Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  向陵稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Kouryou Inari Jinja
English Translation: Mausoleum-Facing Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 5
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Arakawa
Address: 4 Chome-7-34 Nishinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tōkyō-to 116-0013

A little fox shrine that is so significant for the area, that the nearby road was named after it: Kouryou Inari Saka (向陵稲荷坂 "Mausoleum-Facing Inari Slope"). The shrine itself sits on the edge of a little ledge in the landscape, from where one would be able to have a great view, if not for the tall buildings all around. The fox to the right features a kit, thus bringing the vixen side count to 4:19.

 

89 ~ Kaji Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  鍛冶稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Kaji Inari Jinja
English Translation: Blacksmith Inari Shrine
Size: Small
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 8
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Arakawa
Coordinates: 35.7306048,139.7702634

A fox shrine at the corner of a road, surrounded by carefully trimmed bushes and trees. Befitting its name, the two outer guardian foxes are both black, and also a bit weathered.

88 ~ Hayato Inari Jinja

 

Japanese Name:  隼人稲荷神社
Romanized Reading: Hayato Inari Jinja
English Translation: Falcon People Inari Shrine
Size: Tiny
Deity: Inari
Fox Count: 9
First Visit: 19-Apr-2018
Location: Tokyo-Arakawa
Coordinates: 35.7268775,139.7738433

A small Inari shrine right next to a temple, so I'm not sure about whether to count this as a side shrine or not. In the end, I think it's its own place because it has its own road access and is not directly connected to the temple next door. Foxes of different sizes can be found both outside and inside, and the fox to the right features a kit, thus bringing the vixen side count to 4:18. By the way "Hayato" is the name of the ancient people of Kyushu who opposed the reign of Yamato during the 8th century.