Perhaps you have asked yourself why the Fushimi Inari-taisha is so popular? This is the head shrine of Inari. It is located in Fushimi-ku Kyoto. People of all ages visit it.
Fushimi Inari-taisha is also known as O-inari-san. There are around 30000 Inari shrines in Japan. Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine. All other shrines are affiliated with it.
This shrine was established in 711 AD. People gather here. They pray for good harvests. They pray for business success. They also pray for the safety of their families. People pray for the fulfillment of wishes. Fushimi Inari Taisha is iconic. It is famous in Kyoto. It is famous in Japan.
Inari Okami is the enshrined deity. The shrine celebrated its 1300th anniversary in 2011. It was enshrined in 711 AD. This was during the Nara Period.
The main shrine building is important. It has five shrines. These shrines are together. There is a lower shrine. There is a middle shrine. There is an upper shrine. There are auxiliary shrines. These are Tanaka Shrine and Shino-Okami Shrine. These five shrines represent Inari Okami’s virtues.
Traditional festivals are held here. These festivals happen throughout the year. Many festivals evoke Kyoto’s history. Kyoto was the old capital of Japan. Worshippers throng the shrine.
Inariyama is important. Fushimi Inari Taisha rests on this mountain. The entire mountain is part of the shrine. Smaller shrines are here. You can find former shrines. Deities remain there. You will see stones. The deities’ names are engraved on them. There are also shrine gateways. These are called torii.
Inariyama is a holy mountain. It is 233 meters high. It is one of the 36 Higashiyama mountains. It is the southernmost. Inari Shintoism began with mountain worship. Inariyama was designated as a kamnabi. This is a place where a deity is enshrined.
The shrine gained imperial patronage. This happened during the Heian period. Emperor Murakami made a decree in 965. Messengers carried written accounts. These accounts were about important events. They went to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were presented to 16 shrines. The Inari Shrine was one of them.
Fushimi Inari-taisha was officially designated. This happened from 1871 through 1946. It was a Kanpei-taisha. This meant it was a government-supported shrine. It was in the first rank.
The shrine is different. It has an open view. You can see the main object of worship. This is a mirror.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the two-story entry gate. This happened in 1786. The shrine attracts millions of worshippers. They come during the Japanese New Year. In 2006, 2.69 million people visited. This was over three days. The police reported this. It was the most in western Japan.
The earliest structures were built in 711. They were on Inariyama hill. This is in southwestern Kyoto. The shrine was moved in 816. Monk Kukai requested this. The main shrine was built in 1499. The main gate is at the bottom of the hill. It is called romon. The main shrine is called go-honden. The inner shrine is behind them. It is called okumiya. You can reach it by a path. The path is lined with torii.
There are thousands of rock altars. They are on the way to the mountain’s top. These are called otsuka. They are for private worship. Citizens set them up. Most have names for Inari.
The torii gates are a highlight. They are known as Senbon torii. This means thousand torii. Donating a torii became a custom. It started in the Edo period. People did it to have a wish come true. They also did it to show gratitude. There are around 800 torii gates along the main path.
The shrine is near Inari Station. This is on the JR Nara Line. It is five minutes from Kyoto Station. It is also near Fushimi-Inari Station. This is on the Keihan Electric Railway Main Line.
The shrine is open 24 hours. The approach and the main hall are lit all night. There is no entrance fee.
Sweet shops are near the shrine. They sell tsujiura senbei. This is a fortune cookie. It dates to the 19th century. Some believe it is the origin of American fortune cookies.
Foxes are important here. They are messengers. They are often found in Inari shrines. They often have a key in their mouths. The key is for the rice granary.