Toyonaka Inari-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Toyonaka Inari-jinja is a small Shinto shrine surrounded by houses yet filled with trees and greenery in the center of Toyonaka. The simple wooden buildings with curved roofs stand alongside traditional stone lanterns, walking paths, and several auxiliary shrines, including a water purification basin and smaller sanctuaries dedicated to various local deities.
The shrine was founded during the Nara period by a monk named Gyoki to protect the town of Shinmei and bless harvests. After suffering damage during wars, it was rebuilt in 1652 and modernized in the early 1970s while preserving its traditional character.
Locals know the shrine as 'Kitawaki no Inari-san' and gather here throughout the year for festivals and prayers for harvests, health, and family safety. The community keeps these traditions alive, with children and elders participating together in seasonal celebrations.
The shrine is just a five-minute walk from Toyonaka Station and easy to reach by foot or car. A free parking lot is available for visitors, and the priest's office is open from 9 AM to 6 PM daily, though the shrine itself is open around the clock.
Unlike many other shrines, this one does not offer red stamp souvenirs called goshuin, instead focusing on prayers and offerings. A special feature is wooden plaques decorated with high school baseball emblems, as Toyonaka is known as the birthplace of baseball in Japanese high schools.
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