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Samui: cool Apr 18 2020, 01:04 PM

Kira Resari: I just found out that Tamamo no Mae is featured in Gegege no Kitaro. Here's her first appearance. =^,^= https://www.gogoanime1.com/watch/gegege-no-kitarou-2018/episode/episode-74 Apr 18 2020, 05:04 AM

Glacia: Samui became the new champion of Nanaca Crash with a score of 4949.85! Mar 14 2020, 05:03 PM

Kira Resari: Aaaand, that's it with my fox shrine thread! Crud, it fell jsut short of 100,000 "views" =^,~'= Dec 14 2019, 09:12 AM

Kira Resari: Yay! The new Pokémon feature new foxes! Soon I can build a team entirely composed from different fox Pokémon =^,^= https://serebii.net/pokedex-swsh/thievul/ Nov 17 2019, 01:11 AM

Kira Resari: Today features the climax of my Japanese spiritual fox experience with an epic ceremony at Toyokawa Inari Betsuin Nov 03 2019, 01:11 AM

Kira Resari: I also wrote/am still writing a blog about all that: http://kiraresari.blogspot.com/ Oct 10 2019, 07:10 AM

Kira Resari: If you check the dates of my Shrine Visits, you'll notice quite a number of gaps which are the days I worked on. =^,^= Oct 10 2019, 07:10 AM

Kira Resari: Not quite. I spent the last two years doing working holidays of New Zealand and Japan. =^,^= Oct 10 2019, 07:10 AM

Queen Chibi: I'm kind of curious how this works Oct 10 2019, 04:10 AM

Queen Chibi: ... so are you just wealthy enough to tour shrines or something? Oct 10 2019, 04:10 AM

Kira Resari: And today: Toyokawa, the Town of Vulpinity =^,^= Oct 08 2019, 01:10 AM

Kira Resari: Featuring today, the shrine with the highest concentrations of foxes in all of Japan: Reigitsunedsuka ~ The Spirit Fox Den =^,^= Oct 03 2019, 12:10 AM

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Glacia: Samui became the new champion of Nanaca Crash with a score of 3618.16! Sep 28 2019, 01:09 PM

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Kira Resari: Twitch is another of those things that completely passed me by. I suppose I'm just an old-fashioned fox =^,~'= Sep 17 2019, 01:09 AM

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Author Topic: The Travelling Fox in Japan  (Read 150942 times)

Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #555 on: Sep 29 2019, 01:23 AM »
#543



Original Name: 源九郎稲荷神社
Transcript: Genkurou Inari Jinja
Translation: Origin of the Nine Sons Inari Shrine
Location: 二番地 Kangokucho, Nara, 630-8242, Japan
Visited on: 8-Jan-2019



The final fox Shrine I should find during my visit to Nara. By now it's already getting late, and sunset is not far off.

A Side Shrine of Kangou Jinja (漢国神社 "Chinese Country Shrine"), which is located directly next to the Mausoleum of Emperor Kaika (which is only accessible from the next big road to the south though).

Three little foxies watch over this particular Shrine.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #556 on: Sep 30 2019, 01:19 AM »
#544



Original Name: 正一位王禾稲荷大明神
Transcript: Shouichii Oogi Inari Daimyoujin
Translation: Highest Ranking King Tree Inari Great Gracious Deity
Location: 〒441-8089 Aichi-ken, Toyohashi-shi, Muroōnishichō, 26 (34.751809, 137.353693)
Visited on: 12-Jan-2019



This is the first fox Shrine I should find during my time in Toyokawa and Toyohashi. My home here was in Toyokawa, while I attended the JMoF (Japanese Meeting of Furries) in nearby Toyohashi.

This Shrine is located in Toyohashi, and I should find it while going a very scenic route back from the convention site of the Losir Hotel to the Toyohashi train station in the evening. Two little foxies reside within, and I think I can also make out a pair of Tanuki.

This is a Side Shrine of the bigger Susanoo Jinja (素盞鳴神社) by the way. One of many around here. There's quite a lot of Shrines dedicated to the Japanese god of storms in this particular area.
« Last Edit: Oct 01 2019, 01:25 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #557 on: Oct 01 2019, 01:29 AM »
#545



Original Name: ? (Side Shrine of 真光寺)
Transcript: ? (Side Shrine of Shinkouji)
Translation: ? (Side Shrine of True Light Temple)
Location: 〒442-0046 Aichi-ken, Toyokawa-shi, Saiwaichō, 89
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



I shouldn't find many Fox Shrines while attending the JMoF in Toyohashi.

Quite the opposite is true for my epic Toyokawa-Toyohashi conenct stray that I should embark on some days later, intent on walking the entire distance from Toyokawa to Toyohashi, which I previously covered by train.

This is the first fox Shrine I should come across in Toyokawa. It's a Side Shrine of a Buddhist Temple, and it's quite tricky to get there since the only entry to the grounds is on the opposite side of the Shrine, so even though I could see the Shrine quite close I still had to walk around the entire caret.

However, my efforts were rewarded by two little foxies wating for me at the Shrine.
« Last Edit: Oct 01 2019, 02:10 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #558 on: Oct 02 2019, 12:11 AM »
#546 GOLDEN N°6



Original Name: 豊川稲荷
Transcript: Toyokawa Inari
Translation: Bountiful River Inari
Location: 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



This one is the most unusual Golden Fox Shrine I should meet this far.

Because it's not a Shinto Shrine at all! It's a Buddhist Temple!

And yet it has foxes standing guard over it, and features massive great Torii! This place breaks any pattern for Temple and Shrine recognation to the point that even locals sometimes mistake it for a Shrine. This is a further example for the wonderful harmony that exists between Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan, both of which mingle freely and seamlessly in this place.

It's centered around a Temple by the name of Myougonji (妙厳寺 "Exquisite Strictness Temple"), but the entire complex is usually simply known as Toyokawa Inari. These four great foxes here at the entrance should only be a small taste of the masses of vulpinity that are yet to come.
« Last Edit: Oct 02 2019, 12:13 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #559 on: Oct 03 2019, 12:33 AM »
#547



Original Name: 霊狐塚
Transcript: Reigitsunedsuka
Translation: Spirit Fox Den
Location: Japan, 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1 (34.826555, 137.391505)
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



This is it.

This is the most foxy Shrine Shrine that I should find in all of Japan. That is, the one with the highest concentration of foxes in the smallest amount of space.

I saw billboards about this place once, but I could not decipher them in time, and now the guiding hand of the goddes has led me to this place by chance, just like that.

And it's not only many fox statues, but also unique fox statues unlike any I've seen before, as well as engravings of foxes in all shapes and sizes. They even have a cracked rock with a fox statue sitting inside. I wonder how they got him in there.

This place is so amazing, even if a picture counts for thousand words, I can't possibly describe the sheer amazingness of this place with it.

So here's another attempt at 30,000 words a second. =^,^=

« Last Edit: Oct 03 2019, 12:55 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #560 on: Oct 04 2019, 12:37 PM »
#548



Original Name: 奥の院
Transcript: Oku-no In
Translation: Inner Hall
Location: Japan, 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



The inner hall of Toyokawa Inari, and probably a Buddhist Temple. A very notable feature are the skewed trees growing right in the path that are apparently sacred, and thus have never been cut down.

This is where you'll get if you follow the occasional foxes flanking the path to the right of the main temple, and thus the second-biggest accumulation of foxes here. There's even some dark foxes hiding out inside, as well as a scroll showing Inari/Dakini riding a fox.
« Last Edit: Oct 05 2019, 01:12 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #561 on: Oct 05 2019, 01:15 AM »
#549



Original Name: ? (Side Shrine of 豊川稲荷)
Transcript: ? (Side Shrine of Toyokawa Inari)
Translation: ? (Side Shrine of Bountiful River Inari)
Location: Japan, 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



By contrast, here's the definitely smallest fox Shrine of Toyokawa Inari, featuring foxes in the sizes 1 and 4. It's cleverly hidden behind the base of a larger statue, but if you turn around coming from Oku-no In and look a bit to the left, then you should be able to see it.
Chase your dream.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #562 on: Oct 06 2019, 12:31 AM »
#550



Original Name: 納符堂
Transcript: Osame Fudou
Translation: Obtained Token Hall
Location: Japan, 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



Located just to the right of Oku-no In is this little Buddhist Hall that features lots of little foxies inside, including what must be the tiniest foxies I've ever seen. Those are not bigger than a fingernail. I can only imagine the skill that must have been involved in crafting these.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #563 on: Oct 07 2019, 12:24 AM »
#551



Original Name: 旧奥の院跡
Transcript: Kyuu Oku-no In Ato
Translation: Former Inner Hall Remains
Location: Japan, 〒442-0033 Aichi, Toyokawa, Toyokawacho, 1 (34.825473, 137.392176)
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



Guessing from the name, this one is probably a temple, and it's hidden cleverly in the forest of flags, in a connecting traverse paths, so it's invisible from either end of the path. I only came across it thanks to a sign posted at the intersection, featuring a picture of a fox Shrine I did not yet see. That intersections is right in front of the single solitary gate in the woods on the way to the present Oku-no In.

It's only a very short detour, and I am rewarded with a total of 19 foxes.

This should be the final fox Shrine/Temple of Toyokawa Inari. There aren't a lot of them around this time, but they do feature an amazing number of foxes nontheless.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #564 on: Oct 08 2019, 01:30 AM »
INTERLUDE ~ TOYOKAWA, THE TOWN OF VULPINITY

I've already been to Kyoto with its vulpine infinity of Fushimi Inari Taisha (#359), and hence named Kyoto the city of foxes, but this one is different. That much becomes apparent to me the moment I get off at Toyokawa Inari Station and see this arrangement of dancing fox statues squat in the middle of the station square.



Unlike Kyoto, where Fushimi Inari is but a local attraction, Toyokawa celebrates its vulpinity, and as a result, there are vulpine references to be found all over the place.



In fact, it is all but impossible to walk through even remote parts of the town without running into foxes, for even the manhole coveres are decorated with them.



Altogether, I can feel that the people of Toyokawa have really welcomed the foxes into their heart and accepted them as part of their identity, which makes me feel more welcome here than anywhere else.
Chase your dream.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #565 on: Oct 09 2019, 01:54 AM »
#552



Original Name: 中央稲荷
Transcript: Chuuou Inari
Translation: Central Inari
Location: 13-10 Hanaichō, Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken 442-0816 (34.815410, 137.391835)
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



A Side Shrine of Hanaiji (花井寺 "Flower Well Temple"), located just in front of the Temple's Bellfry.

Apart from Toyokawa Inari, there aren't quite as many fox Shrines in this town, but that's okay.

They are around if you look, and this one features an unusual little fox statue of Inari riding a fox among its 16 vulpine guardians.
« Last Edit: Oct 10 2019, 01:15 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #566 on: Oct 10 2019, 01:18 AM »
#553



Original Name: 福寿稲荷大明神
Transcript: Fukuju Inari Daimyoujin
Translation: Long Life and Happiness Inari Great Gracious Deity
Location: Gōchū-74 Shinozukachō, Toyokawa, Aichi 441-0102 (34.802592, 137.371118)
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



After Chuuou Inari of Hanaiji, I should not run into any further fox Shrines for a long time. There are a number of Inari Shrines along the way, but none of them feature foxes.

This one finally has traces of vulpinity again. It's a Side Shrine of Kouboudaishi Takashi Goshugo (弘法大師尊御守護 "Broad Law Great Teacher Precious Honorable Protector") (more or less. You can access it from the road without entering the temple, but they sort of share the same grounds, and the temple is several orders of magnitude bigger), and features a quartet of foxes inside.
« Last Edit: Oct 10 2019, 01:21 AM by Kira Resari »
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #567 on: Oct 11 2019, 12:52 PM »
#554



Original Name: 五社稲荷神社
Transcript: Gosha Inari Jinja
Translation: Five Shrines Inari Shrine
Location: Kakeyama-2 小坂井町欠山 Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken 441-0103
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



A big Shrine constructed in a terrace-like fashion. It almost has the make of a fortress, so maybe this was a former castle ground.

Interestingly, the foxes here feature plastic baskets. I wonder if they're gathering particularly big donations?

Also, in addition to the already big entrance Torii, this one features and even bigger, huge Torii on the road leading to the Shrine, making it clearly visible from quite a long distance away.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #568 on: Oct 11 2019, 09:49 PM »
#555



Original Name: 五社稲荷
Transcript: Gosha Inari
Translation: Five Shrines Inari
Location: Kakeyama-2 小坂井町欠山 Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken 441-0103
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



A Side Shrine of Gosha Inari Jinja, located just behind the main Shrine. You can get there by circling around either from the left or from the right, though the basket-foxes will await you on the right.

Independently of that, there's more foxes in the inner sanctuary, which you can only see if you take a close peek through the wooden latticework inside the Shrine.
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Offline Kira Resari

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Re: The Travelling Fox in Japan
« Reply #569 on: Oct 13 2019, 12:15 PM »
BONUS: Rabbit #1



Original Name: 菟足神社
Transcript: Utari Jinja
Translation: Rabbit's Foot Shrine
Location: Miyawaki-2-1 Kozakaichō, Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken 441-0103
Visited on: 16-Jan-2019



A counterpart to Utuno Inari Jinja (#314) of Usuki, Shrine of the Omega Death Fox, this here is the Shrine of the Omega Death Rabbit, with quite a bunch of little Rabbits around as well.
Chase your dream.
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