NaraTravel

Genjūrō Inari Shrine (源九郎稲荷神社)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Indigo dye merchant's machiya with goldfish-themed artworks and special exhibitions. The charming earth-floor corridor and courtyard are also highlights

About 85 min from the previous stop

About 30 min here

About 30 min to the next stop

Next stop: A museum surrounded by breeding ponds where you can view rare goldfish varieties. A fitting conclusion to your goldfish town stroll

About this spot

This Inari shrine enshrines the white fox Genjūrō, who in the masterpiece kabuki and puppet theater play "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura" took the form of Satō Tadanobu to protect the dancer Shizuka Gozen. Though a small shrine tucked away in an alley of the castle town, it is counted among Japan's Three Great Inari Shrines and is renowned as an auspicious place where kabuki actors pray for successful performances. The shrine grounds, with vermillion torii gates and fox statues lined up together, are compact yet picturesque, and combined with the retro townscape, they're wonderfully photogenic. The cute fox amulets and shrine stamps are popular, making it a perfect place for a couple's prayer for good fortune. In spring, the "White Fox Procession" takes place, with participants dressed as white foxes parading through town, adding vibrancy to the castle town.

Tips

About a 7-minute walk from Kintetsu Koriyama Station. The shrine sits at the end of a narrow residential alley, so a map app is helpful. The compact shrine grounds mean a 30-minute visit is sufficient for worship. The shrine stamp and fox amulets are popular, but the gift shop closes at certain times, so visiting early in the afternoon is recommended. The surrounding area is residential, so please walk quietly.