The Head Shrine of all Inari Shrines
It is not an overstatement to say that ”Oinarisan” is the most familiar shrine in Japan. ”Fushimi Inari Taisha” is the head shrine to all the Inari shrines throughout the nation, said to be more than 30,000. It is said to have been founded in 711 when Hatanoirogu enshrined deities at the 3 peaks of Mt. Inari. However, there are other theories as to how it intertwined with other local beliefs thus supports how it has been rooted in the Japanese since the long past. The 1000 gates leading to the shrine is famous, and it has been highly popular with the name ”Oinarisan” for over 1300 years. The gates are formed in a line and look from afar like one tunnel, and is often used in TV commercials and appears in scenes of a TV drama. The slightly curving path of the gates are so long the exit cannot be seen from the entrance. The numbers of gates on the entire mountain is said to be a little over 5000. The vermillion gates feel as though they continue infinitely, leading you to another dimension.
The fox guarding Fushimi Inari Shrine
Oinarisan is closely associated with the fox. You’ll see statues of foxes by the Sakura gates of the Fushimi Inari Taisha as well. You may wonder why fox? Foxes are said to be sacred animals, and are servants to the Inari Myojin god. Therefore instead of a shrine guardian dog, foxes guard the gates of the Inari shrine. In 2011 is the 1300 year commemoration to the establishment of the ”Fushimi Inari Taisha”. Restoration is currently underway and the newly painted shrine facility buildings stand brilliantly
