Well, the Fushimi Inari-Taisha (or Inari for short) is perhaps the most visited (or at least visible) temple in Kyoto as it is so picturesque, but it really is nice and worth going every time you are there. Not that it would change so much, just the people, their way, reactions, etc. … Talking about people we observed that more and more people in their late teens, 20s and 30s come to Japan (compared to the much older group some years ago) which is an interesting movement. As you see them mostly in the more “hip” and “cool” places (like Inari) hope remains that this might cause some change in the (abysmal) English language abilities of their Japanese friends (you know, hope dies last…). Another issue with these added tourists is that the attractions are becoming even more crowded as they already are (more Japanese pensioners travel, too) so you have to select your time of travel very carefully

But before we dive into the details of Inari one episode from the Kumano Kodo which was filmed by Ursi and gives a good impression of the nature of such a temple… Rain splashing down, drumming in the background and walkers…

 

Now back to Inari – first you arrive by JR train from Kyoto station

and then face the monumental entrance gate being a bit shocked by the sheer masses of people around you. Last time we were here just some 4 years ago we had the place nearly to ourselves… (but that was March I guess)

Inari is dedicated to the fox as sacred animal and rice and sake as goods

A Chinese dog-lion

And finally some explanation how you should perform your business on public toilets

Well, this sorted out we covered the basics and now proceed to the nicer aspects… The gateways are placed by worshippers for a prayers

You buy one, say your prayer

and leave them there to rot and decay when they are taken away. If you didn’t get what you wanted, try again – it’s like the lottery

Anyhow there is ample supply for worshippers

A very eager prayer

and a veeeeery Japanese fox

this one is more like a squirrel

All the time you walk through these gates which are erected as prayers, too

This was just a nice view up-hill

Another focus

Carrying the gear is no easy task with all these steps (in total you cover some 300m altitude…)

Sometimes when the tourists get too much just step out of the archways and look around

Suddenly everything becomes peaceful

and busy…

Mostly companies buy the archways for their prayer (good fortune, loads of money, etc.) and the amount they pay dictates the size and duration of the archway. So you see many starting to corrode at the end of the period

Which will fade over time

until completely gone and removed (to be replaced by new ones)

Several stages of corrosion

I had to catch the moment…

Further up the hill come more shrine areas

A typical Japanese dog – very hectic, running here and there around – no peace…

Decay everywhere…

And some impressions of lesser walked paths

Steady supplies are waiting to be used

Along the path old tea-houses are lined up

Clearly indicating their business intentions

a fox-dragon with a hat

Fierce fox…

From time to time sections become quite steep…

So that the boys are panting quite a lot when they get up here

Intercultural exchange happens

And someone was collecting (sacred?) bamboo from the forest along the path

Looks quite nasty

We admired the variety of foxes – each one individually carved

With a different expression

There are toads as well…

and frogs

give me five…

Being overwhelmed by gateways we headed back to downtown Kyoto and as we just strolled by took the chance…

Not entirely British, but anyhow a nice Guinness and a local beer

This one really enjoyed the happy hour with his Bloody Mary – just street observations

Japanese has no l and v – so they substitute r for l and b for v mostly. Thus love becomes rabu (l –> r, v –> b + Japanese language rules ). Just simple search & replace doesn’t help either… Cleam cheese is cream cheese

One of these typical images of Japan. The entrance area to a ryokan next the railway station – everybody is conforming to standards!

To wrap it up – this picture describes my impressions of the day very much