Inaba Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Inaba Shrine is a Shinto shrine in central Gifu, dedicated to the deity Inari. The grounds contain a main hall, stone torii gates, and a paved path leading visitors from the entrance to the main sanctuary.
The shrine dates back to the Edo period and was founded to place the local people of Gifu under the protection of the deity Inari. Over the centuries it has been restored several times but has kept its role as a neighborhood shrine.
Inaba Shrine sits close to the center of Gifu and draws both locals and visitors who come to pray or simply pause during the day. Stone fox figures stand near the entrance, as foxes are seen as messengers of the deity Inari in Shinto tradition.
The shrine is generally open during daylight hours and can be reached on foot from central Gifu. It is good practice to wash your hands at the stone basin near the entrance before approaching the main hall, as is customary at Shinto shrines.
Inaba Shrine is one of the few Inari shrines in the Gifu area to feature a row of red torii gates arranged in sequence, a style most people associate with the famous Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. This detail tends to catch visitors off guard, as few expect to find it in a mid-size city like Gifu.
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