A visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is like stepping into a world of magic. There are foxes and beautiful red tori gates beautifully contrasting with the greens of a mystic mountain. Birds provide a natural background music as it seems to be a mystical world set in a natural setting. Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the rice Kami(God). It is one of the most beautiful sacred sites I have visited. 

An Ema(votive tablet), is a written wish made to God. The shape of the ema varies from shrine to shrine. The ema of Fushimi Inari Taisha is in the shape of a torii gate.

The red-bib-wearing, shrine-guarding Inari foxes of legend exist only as stone representations, they were based on the very real foxes of Japan. Those were the times when people lived close to nature. Foxes were a common sight for villagers in Japan. Many of the Inari fox legends are inspired by them.

Photos and content by Prerna Jain