As the role of agriculture diminshed,deities were enrolled to ensure prosperity in business.
Nowa days,the shrine is one of Japan`s most popular,and is the head shrine for some 30,000 Inari
shrines scattered the length and breadth of Japan.
The entire complex,consisting of five shrines,sprawls across the wooded slopes of Mt Inari.
A pathway wanders 4 km up the mountain and is lined hundreds of red torii ( arches).
There are also dozens of stone foxes. The fox is considered the messenger of Inari,the god of cereals,and by extevsion the stone foxes,too,are often referred to as Inari.
On an incidental note,the Japanese traditionally see the fox as the fox as a sacred,somewhat
mysterious figure capable of ``possessing ``humans-the favoured point of entry under the fingernails. The key often seen in the fox`mounth is for the rice granary.
Access :
From Hotel Iida to JR Kyoto station ( 2 min walk )
Take a JR Nara-line train to Inari station ( 5 min)
Inari station to Fusimi-inari Taisha shrine ( 1 min walk )
Admission : FREE * 24 hour open
NISHIKI MARKET
Experience the traditional Japanese market
Nishiki Market,
``the Kitchen of Kyoto`` !
Nishiki Market , is a narrow shopping street, located on a road one block north
and parallet to shijo. Nishiki is about 390 meters long and runs east-west,
from Teramachi Street to Takakura street. Along both sides of the 5 meters
wide road, line about 126 shops and stalls,selling traditional Japanese food,
ingredients and order novel items.
Many kind of pickles, Japanese sweets, dried food ,sushi,and fresh seafood and vegetables
can be found here. Nishiki have a very long history, the first store( fish store) opened
as early as the 1311. Then in the Edo peiod ( 16th century ), Nishiki became a prosper fish
market, with several wholesale fish stores operating. Later ,the market shift from wholesale
to retail sale , and store selling items other than seafood opened too.
Access:
Hotel Iida to Subway Kyoto station ( 3 min walk )
Get off Subway Shijo station ( 5 min )
Shijo station exsit ② to Nishiki Market ( 3 min walk )
Time : 9:00 - 18:00 *Differ from each shop.
