Behind Fushimi Inari shrine’s main grounds lies the entrance to the torii gate covered hiking trail. Have you ever wondered what the bright orange gates symbolize?
Inari, the Shinto god to whom the site is dedicated, is the patron of business as well as the god of rice. Traditionally worshiped by Japanese merchants and manufacturers, Inari has dozens upon dozens of torii gates donated to him by various Japanese individuals and corporations. Each torii gate is inscribed on the back with the donor’s name, business and year. A small sized gate starts around 400,000¥ and goes up to over a million for a large gate, but there are also some smaller shrines with stacks of miniature gates donated by visitors of more modest means.
After a fun hike, we came back down to the main shrine grounds and decided to make a small donation. The shrine offers mini tori gates (800¥) for those looking to send Inari their wishes, or fox head prayer tablets (ema). We went for the more decorative option and had fun each taking a side of the fox’s face to create. How does he look compared to the wall of foxes?
Read more: Travel to Japan
Want to know what else to do in Tokyo? Check out my full Japan series:
Tokyo
That Time I Got Naked with Strangers… My Japanese Bathhouse Experience
Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 1 Is the Tuna Auction Worth Visiting?
Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 2 (You Woke Up Late) The Other Stalls
How to Travel Japan Shinkansen & the Japan Rail Pass
Tokyo’s Most Famous Temple: Asakusa and Senso-Ji
Hotel Review Mornings at the Park Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo Sights: Visiting the Imperial East Gardens
Kyoto
A Visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto (Memoirs of a Geisha!)
What Does It Mean to Donate a Torii Gate
Sanjusangendo Temple and the 1,000 Statues of Kannon
Japan Eats
Sushi for Breakfast, Really? Sushi Daiwa at Tsukiji
Delicious Bakery Treats Mont Thabor & The Park Hyatt
Is Japan Vegetarian Friendly? Here’s What You Can Expect & Eat More Greens
Dessert Among Diamonds Mikimoto Lounge
How Good is Japanese Tonkatsu
Beautiful photos! I love all of the red color – so bold!
Thanks for sharing!