Taikodani-Inari Shrine [Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi]

Pass through the vermilion-red Senbon Torii, offer “Oage-san” and pray for the fulfillment of wishes

Tsuwano is in western Shimane Prefecture. This small town is located in a basin formed by the surrounding mountains and is called “Little Kyoto in the San-in,” a quaint castle town.

Standing on the side of the mountain seen from this town, the vermilion-red columns and white walls of Taikodani Inari Shrine can be clearly seen.

Enshrined here are the gods of desire fulfillment, huge harvests of the five grains, and food, clothing and housing. This is the reason why the kanji characters in the name of a shrine name are written as “Inari (稲成)” instead of ”Inari (稲荷),” which is normally used, is because there is an old saying that “your wish will be fulfilled well.”

The countless vermilion-red torii gates that decorate the approach to the shrine are the famous Senbon Torii. As Miwa Ishihara slowly walked up the stone steps through the red tunnel, her cheeks were slightly tinged red from the reflection of the sunlight streaming through the gaps between torii.

Miwa said that she had visited this place several times. "Can I buy some Oage-san and offer it at the shrine?”

“Oage-san” is a set of thin deep-fried tofu, a candle, and a box of matches. You can buy it at several shops within the precincts of the shrine. It is a custom at this shrine to offer thin deep-fried tofu, the favorite food of the fox, who is considered to be the messenger of the gods.

After offering the Oage-san, she finished with two bows, two claps and one bow. “What kind of request did you make on this day?”

“It’s a secret,” she said.