Shrines and temples. It is estimated that there are 100,000 Shinto shrines and another 80,000 Buddhist temples in Japan. Shrines range from the expansive Fushimi Inari, which covers an entire mountain in Kyoto, to the minuscule local shrine, that consists of nothing more than a torii and a Hokora, in which the kami or Dosojin, kami that protect travelers, pilgrims, villages, and individuals in transitional stages from epidemics and evil spirits, is enshrined, in a park, courtyard, or even on the side of a road.
宝 – Treasure 
While walking around one of the major cities in Japan, it is easy to miss the smaller shrines as they can either be hidden, or other distractors catch your eye. As I was walking around the Azabu-juban area, a very trendy spot not too far from the gaijin ghetto in Roppongi, I came upon one of these hidden or lesser-known shrines. I would have walked right by and not given it a second glance if it weren’t for the little boat full of 7 happy little characters plying the seas.
Inside the boat are the Seven Lucky Gods. They are Ebisu (恵比寿), Hotei (布袋), Benzaiten (弁才天), Bishamonten (毘沙門天), Daikokuten (大黒天), Jurojin (寿老人), Fukurokuju (福禄寿) For more information about the Seven Lucky Gods, check out this excellent post here.
Juban Inari-jinja is a small shrine right on Route 319, a road that regularly sees super-cars ripping up the streets. As I was snapping some pics, a bright purple Lamborghini was exercising all of its horsepower and shattered the peace the shrine was attempting to provide. I would imagine it could be a bit difficult to focus on one’s prayers in that environment. I’m sure the devout make do.
Juban Inari-jinja, as the name implies, is a shrine devoted to the god Inari. The god is the kami of rice cultivation, tea and sake, general prosperity, and worldly success. Inari is also the patron deity of merchants and swordsmiths and is also associated with brothels and entertainers. A very busy god, indeed. Inari shrines are my favorite shrines due to their association with foxes. The foxes originally acted as messengers, but over the years the lines have been blurred and some consider the foxes to be a depiction of the god Inari. In my opinion, if you want to visit the best Inari shrine in Japan, you need to go to Kyoto and spend a few hours climbing up and down Fushimi-Inari. It is not the easiest climb, but it is very much worth the time and effort.
Rolling Tsuchinoko 
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