Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most popular Shinto shrines in Japan, because tunnels of many red torii gates look exotic as shown in the photo. Inari shrine is believed to be beneficial for a good harvest, prosperous business and family safety, hence there are more than 30,000 Inari shrines of various sizes throughout Japan. Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of these Inari shrines, features so many red torii gates standing from the foothills to hilltop and what is called Senbon-torii, literally meaning 1,000 torii gates, in particular. These torii gates were donated from believers, thus the donator’s names are written in black lacquer on each torii gate. The actual number of these torii gates are counted more than 10,000. When one thinks of Fushimi Inari Taisha, the tunnel of torii gates in the photo comes to mind, but the history of the dedication of these torii gates is unexpectedly new and is thought to have begun in the first half of the 19th century. This shrine’s origin dates back to the beginning of the 8th century.
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