The Fox Shrine To End All Fox Shrines
I knew I was going to love the Sasuke Inari Shrine from the moment I saw the long tunnel of red lacquer torii gates leading into the deep, dark woods. But nothing prepared me for the mossy, foxy, wonders that lay beyond!









If you’d like to visit the Sasuke Inari Shrine the next time you’re in Tokyo, Kamakura is an easy day trip (just an hour away by train). Directions & maps are on my website, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.
Note: The best time of year to go is during and after the rainy season. From June-September, the moss is lush and green, but if it hasn’t rained in a while, it can be a little brown and disappointing.
And just for fun, here are the eleven strangest shrines in Tokyo, with all the inside scoop on the resident gods’ superpowers
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon!
“Patrick’s keen eye for the telling detail reveals her great love for and knowledge of Japan. A great read!” —Liza Dalby, author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki
•
Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Categories
Jonelle Patrick View All
Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!
These are some awesome pictures! I would love to go there.
I hope you get to go someday! I want to see pictures of you in kimono at spots like this!(^O^☆♪
This is fabulous! I’d love to go there too. I thought my parents had a big collection of foxes but it doesn’t compare to this. Most are Western but they have some Japanese ones too.
I was seriously tempted to take mine away, because these foxes have such enigmatic faces. Some figures you get to leave at shrines sort of phone it in, looks-wise, but these were lovely. I got the smallest ones, but each size has a different look/expression!
I know I am posting on an old post, but wanted to say thank you for the hard work you put into this blog entry. I saw one of the pictures you took on Pinterest and followed the link to this very lovely article. Thank you very much. It was greatly appreciated.
Wow, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you get to see this great Fox Shrine yourself the next time you’re in Japan!