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Toyokawa Inari (Myogonji Temple) 豊川稲荷

Toyokawa Inari Shrine Toyokawa Inari Shrine
Toyokawa Inari Shrine Toyokawa Inari Shrine

One of Japan's "big three" Inari shrines is actually a Buddhist temple

With literally a thousand stone foxes dressed in bright red bibs perched throughout this massive multi-faith shrine, Toyokawa Inari is one of Japan's most picturesque religious sites. This is a Buddhist temple of the Soto sect, created during the period of religious syncretism spanning the initial period when Buddhism first took a foothold in Japan to the Meiji Restoration.

Quick Facts

The monk Tokai Gieki founded Toyokawa Inari Shrine in 1441

How to Get There

Toyokawa Inari is accessible by train.

Take the Toyohashi bound train from Meitetsu Nagoya Station . At Ko Station, change to a train bound for Toyokawa-inari Station. The shrine is a three-minute walk from there.

A multi-faith entryway

The entrance to Toyokawa Inari features a huge 4.5-meter-high door crafted from a single slab of wood, and you are welcomed by a pair of ferocious Buddhist Nio temple guardians.

After offering your prayers to your faith of choice, or simply marveling at the impressive structures, follow the path down the steps to the right of the main shrine. Here you will find Myogen Temple, which houses the effigy of the Thousand-Handed Senju Kannon, a sight that most of the shrine's six million annual visitors miss.

Feeling foxy

From there, go through the sacred copse and behind the Okuno-in pavilion, past the winding paths lined with flags flown as votive offerings. You'll find the Reiko-Zuka, a hillside covered in red-bibbed stone fox messengers.

Local treats to sample

The street directly before the shrine's entrance contains a wide range of restaurants and souvenir shops. Try the Inari zushi—sweet pouches of fried tofu filled with sushi rice—which are believed to be a favorite of Toyokawa Inari's stone foxes.



* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

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