New Year stalls at Fushimi Inari

The first time I ever went to Fushimi Inari, it was because I wanted to see the grilled sparrows that were mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guide. These days the sparrow have been replaced by grilled quail. There are also souvenir shops nearby that sell beckoning cats, Daruma dolls, fans and other souvenirs, and of course you can buy charms inside the shrine for protection, success and prosperity. However at New Year food stalls spring up everywhere, to sell candy, sweet bean filled cakes shaped like fish, octopus dumplings, fried noodles and many other delicious festive snacks to the crowds that visit the shrine at this time of year.