Apr 8, 2014 - 1 min read

Spotting Foxes at Toyokawa Inari Temple

Close up look at fascinating Akasaka fox temple

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

What a magnificent fox; he looks like a force to be reckoned with

An angry fox inside one of the smaller temples where locals come to pray daily

A pair of foxes looking up at...what are they looking at?!

Adornments made of origami

One of the foxes at Toyokawa Inari Temple, greening with age

An interesting combination of large and small fox statues

Curtain and beautiful adornments of one of the smaller alters in the temple that locals come to pray at

Sharp ears, sharp eyes, sharp teeth. A fox!

A pair of foxes

A corner of the outside wall of Toyokawa Inari Temple, Akasaka

This fox is carrying something in its mouth; perhaps a sacred scroll, perhaps a flask of rice, perhaps a key

It certainly doesn't look like a fox!

The temple has a lot of flowers both inside and outside the side alters

Toyokawa Inari is a branch temple that is both colorful and fascinating and easy to visit. This temple has its origins in Toyokawa city, Aichi prefecture, over 700 years ago.

The gods enshrined here protect believers from suffering. Just a 5-minute walk from Akasaka-Mitsuke Station on the Tokyo Metro's Ginza Line or Marunouchi Line, the temple is famous for its love of the fox. Although you may think that these look a lot like dogs, they are actually foxes. In Japanese lore, the fox is known for being clever, and often deceitful.

Come and enjoy a visit to the temple and see how many of the unique foxes in my photos your can spot.

Toyokawa Inari Temple

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina 5 years ago

Oh, I wish I knew about this temple earlier! I like kitsune very much. : (

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