

Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Japan's representative shrines, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, and is known as the head shrine of the approximately 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan. The shrine enshrines Inari Daijin, who is worshipped primarily as a god of prosperity and good harvest, and is visited by many worshippers and tourists from Japan and abroad. Particularly famous on the shrine grounds are the “Senbon-torii,” a series of vermilion-lacquered torii gates. These torii gates were dedicated by worshippers and believers as thanks for the fulfillment of their wishes, and the tunnel of torii gates creates a mysterious landscape. In addition, the entire Mt. Inari area is considered a Shinto shrine, with many shrines scattered throughout the mountain, and visitors can walk around on a path of worship called “Oyama-mururi. The shrine was founded in 711, dating back to the Nara period, when three deities were enshrined on the three peaks of Mt. Initially founded by the powerful Hata clan, the shrine later came to be revered by the imperial family and nobility in the Heian period. Throughout its history, the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine has developed as a support for the prosperity of agriculture and commerce in the region. Fushimi Inari Taisha is attractive not only for its historical background and religious significance, but also for its rich natural environment and unique culture. Millions of people from all over Japan visit the shrine on New Year's Day to seek the blessings of the deity Inari. It is also a place of daily devotion for the local people. Its magnificent architecture and traditions symbolize the richness of Japanese culture and faith.