Visited Takayama Inari Shrine in Aomori,and it felt like stepping into another world
This shrine is dedicated to the gods of good harvests, prosperous business, and safetey at sea. As I walked through the grounds, I climed up and down several small hills until I found a tiny shrine called Ryujinguu.
There, I tried a very rare water fortune slip something you do not often see in Aomori.
Afrer drawing the fortune, you dip the paper into water at a nearby basin, and the hidden words slowly appear.
My result was “Shokichi”(small blessing). Not amaging, not terrible…,maybe it was the shrine telling me, “Keep doing your best”.
Then came the famous part: the endless tunnel of bright red torii gates climing up the hill.At the top, an incredible view was wating.
But honesty, that was not the main reason I came here.
What fascinates me most about this place are the mysterious fox statues.
Seeing so many foxes lined up together is incredibly unusual.I actually visited this shrine once several years ago, but somehow I felt called back again.
Interestingly, one of my relatives who lives in Aomori says the place feels a little creepy and refuses to go near it. Maybe that strange atmosphere is exactly what makes this shrine so unforgettable.
📍 Takayama Inari Shrine – Visitor Information
Address: 147-1 Washinosawa, Ushigatacho, Tsugaru City, Aomori 038-3305, Japan
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Open daily)
Admission: Free
Phone: +81 173-56-2015
Access:
By car: About 30 minutes from Goshogawara-kita IC on the Tsugaru Expressway.
From JR Goshogawara Station: Take the city bus to Takayama Jinja Iriguchi stop, then taxi 5 minutes or walk about 1 hour.
