After our amazing morning, we took the train out a bit to Fushimi, where we visited the Fushimi Inari-Taisha (shrine), which was founded in the eighth century. This is the largest of more than 30,000 shrines dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, sake, and prosperity. Foxes (kitsune) are said to be the messengers of Inari, and there were many many MANY representations of foxes here. (The key in the fox's mouth below is said to be the key to a granary.)
At this shrine there are also many many vermillion torii--5,000, allegedly...
I love all of the incense lined up ... and of course, I love all of the lanterns.
Then we went to Nishiki Market, seen above, where many interesting things were being sold: flowers...
... and interesting-looking foodstuffs.
1 comment:
Lovely photos, Sherri. The fox is one of those animals (there are many) that takes on mythic status in Japanese culture. I think much of this type of "nature worship" is rooted in Shinto, Japan's most indigenous religion. Interestingly enough,the most popular dog in Japan--the Shiba Inu--looks almost exactly like a fox!--Dolores
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