Taikodani Inari Shrine

Iwami region is home to one of Japan's 'little Kyotos', smaller scale versions of the delightful city. Tsuwano has outstanding shrines and temples, incredible festivals, hot springs, sake breweries, a Christian history, an amazing garden, and even a steam train.

This is spectacular shrine in the hills above Tsuwano. If you are fit, tackle the ascent from the bottom through hundreds of red gates. You can pause and admire the view if you get out fo breath. Little kids do it, so it's not too steep. However, if you have mobility issues, you can drive or take a taxi round a back road to the shrine and get almost to the top. The view from the top is amazing. You can see all over the town, and across the valley to the red torii gate.

Taikodani-Inari Jinja Shrine was founded by a local lord in the hope that his people and clan would live in peace and prosperity. There are five major Taikodani-Inari Jinja Shrines in Japan, but this is the only one in Shimane..Fushimi-Inari( 伏見稲荷大社 ) in Kyoto, Kasama-Inari ( 笠間稲荷神社 ) in Ibaragi, Takekoma ( 竹駒神社 ) in Miyagi, Yutoku-Inari ( 祐徳稲荷神社 ) in Saga, and Taikodani-Inari Jinja.

Inari-Okami ( 稲荷大神 ) Inari-Okami (Okami = God ) had faith as God of the productiveness of grain and prosperous business since Edo era. Taikodani-Inari Jinja shrine is enshrined as God of wish fulfillment.

・History of ‘ Inari (稲成) ‘

We usually write Inari like this 稲荷. But Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine’s kanj for 'Inari'i is 稲成. A long time ago, a man who was the guardian of warehouse lost the key. Because of this, he was sentenced to death to take responsibility. The man prayed fervently to find the key. But he couldn’t find the key until execution day. Finally, he found the key because he prayed devoutly. He got his desire (＝wish fulfillment, 願望成就 ). Thus Tsuwano's Taikodani-Inari Jinja kanji is 稲成.

We can obtain Omikuji or fortune-telling papers at this shrine. Omikuji is like a fortune cookie. At Taiko Inari shirien there is unique vending machine. This machine looks like Shishima lion. The lion will chooses your Omikuji instead for you. Please try it!I

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