Fushimi Inari

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Originally uploaded by me-spirit.

Our first temple visit in Kyoto was at Fushimi Inari, which honors the rice and sake gods. It was no coincidence to visit a shrine which honors sake, first.

Okome (rice) plays a signficiant part of Japan's culture. Quick nihongo-ga lesson: words that hold a place of honor are preceded by "o" such as okome (kome = rice) ozushi (sushi), omizu (mizu = water) or okane (kane=money). Likewise, Norv should refer to me as "Olumpia"!

The draw to Fushimi Iniri are the thousands of torii that line the hillside like a hallway. Torii are the telltale signs to a shrine entrance.

Quick Hollywood movie reference: I hate the use of artistic license and there's one in "Memoirs of a Geisha" where the young Sayuri is running through a hallway of torrii much like these. It makes absolutely no sense, except for pretty imagery, because the paths created by the Fushimi Inari torii loop to the top of the hill and back down. That's the long way home if you ask me. It was a bad movie anyway...

Several small tea and sake houses dotted the pathway up. Despite the fact that it was late morning, we convinced ourselves to have some sake while we were there. And why not? I was already a bit pooped climbing the stairs and needed a break (and many of the older shopkeepers make this route everyday to their tea or sake house).



Along with the torii, kitsune or spirit foxes were everywhere. These magical creatures guard the shrine, and folklore claim they can be mischevious. Don't mess with them.