Toyokawa Inari Betsu-in Temple, Buddhist temple in Moto-Akasaka, Japan
Toyokawa Inari Betsuin is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo. Its main hall has a dark tiled roof with upturned corners, a dark wooden facade with a wide central opening and lattice panels, and gold trim along the gable. A stone stairway leads up, flanked by a stand with a white sign reading "お水神" and a fox statue before a small pavilion.
Ōoka Tadasuke, a magistrate of Edo, enshrined Dakini-ten from Toyokawa Inari at his residence; in 1828 the temple rented a quarter of his Akasaka estate and built a chapel for public worship. In 1876 the prefecture banned unauthorized public worship and the enshrined spirit was returned to Aichi, but permission was granted two years later. The temple moved to its present site in 1887.
The name comes from Inari, a deity that merchants and farmers honor, and foxes serve as its messengers. Visitors today see worshippers leaving coins at altars and lighting incense sticks to ask for success in business.
The entrance sits on a quiet street in Moto-Akasaka, a short walk from major crossroads, and the grounds open early in the morning until evening. Visitors can walk freely through the courtyards and explore the smaller shrines, but should speak softly and keep mobile phones silent.
The temple's founder, Ōoka Tadasuke, is remembered as a shrewd Edo magistrate; a senryū pun asks why Ishikawa thieves steal but leave Toyokawa alone, crediting the shrine with preventing theft. Since the Meiji era, performers from nearby Akasaka entertainment districts have worshipped here, and the temple remains popular with actors, singers and athletes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,357 contributors worldwide.