Toyokawa Inari Shrine

Toyokawa is a city located in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture and the most important shrine there is the Tokoyawa Inari Shrine. It is considered one of Japan’s Big Three Inari Shrines, along with Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari and the Yutoku Inari Shrine in Saga Prefecture. Established in 1441 by the monk Tokai Geki, the Toyokawa Inari is a paradox. It is both a Sodo sect Buddhist Temple, as well as a Shinto Shrine, dedicated to Inari Okami, the god of fertility, rice and agriculture, industry and worldly success. If that’s not enough, it is also dedicated to the god of foxes. In fact, there are literally thousands of stone foxes and carvings located throughout the shrine.