Visiting the Fox Shrine in Tokyo – (Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex)

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This temple was constructed in modern-day Tokyo during the Edo period and is known as the “Fox Shrine” by locals, although the official name is Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex.

It is not the only fox shrine located in Japan, (there are a few others nationwide) however this is the only one located in Tokyo.

Throughout the temple, you’ll see hundreds of statues of all different kinds displaying cute foxes. Some are wearing red yodarekake (red bibs) which are given to the statues in an act of kindness and often given at the time of praying to the deity as part of an offering.

Other than a sea of red bibs and foxes scattered all over the grounds, what else makes this temple special?

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

Spending some more time in Tokyo? Check out these other unique temples in the city

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How to get to Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex (Fox Shrine)?

Location: 1 Chome-4-7 Motoakasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0051

This “Fox Shrine” in Tokyo is located in Minato City and there are multiple ways to reach the temple.

By subway:

• Reach Akasaka-Mitsuke Station (G, Orange, Ginza Line) or (M, Red, Marunouchi Line) and walk 5 minutes
• Reach Aoyama-Itchome Station (G, Orange, Ginza Line) and walk 11 minutes
• Reach Akasaka Station (C, Green, Chiyoda Line) and walk 12 minutes

If the Tokyo subway system seems overwhelming you have the option to take a bus too. If in doubt, you can easily use Google Maps as it works very well across the city and Japan.

The easiest way to travel across Tokyo is by using a Suica Card. This card will allow you to simply tap in and out of each station and on buses so you don’t have to worry about having exact change on each journey. You can collect the card and top it up with some money and only top it up again once the balance runs out. Not only is this more convenient, but it also allows you to keep track of your budget much easier.

You can order a Suica card in advance ready to collect at Haneda airport by using my link: Welcome Suica

Fox Shrine Opening Times & Costs

Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex is fortunately free for visitors so you can simply show up on the day you want to visit and enter without a charge.

If you do have some cash on you, there are some staff members located within the temple grounds

The opening hours are from 5:30 am until 8 pm 7 days a week.

This is a tourist attraction that is still an actively used religious space so make sure to always treat the grounds with respect, and keep noise to a minimum as it’s likely you will see people praying during your visit.

Want to visit other unique temples in Tokyo? Check out this list:

• Kanda Myoujin Shrine: Where Anime writer’s pray for success
• Perfect Temple for Cat Lover’s, Gotokuji (Gotoku-ji) Tokyo, Japan
• Nanzo-in (Nanzoin) Temple Tokyo – The “tied-up” statue

Worshipped deities at Toyokawa Inari Shrine

The word “Inari” loosely translates to “reaping of rice” in English and is in reference to a famous Japanese deity named Inari Okami. This Shinto deity is the god of agriculture, fertilising crops and rice which in turn is associated with foxes.

Many visitors to the Tokyo Fox shrine come to ask the gods for assistance in growing their crops or to bring appropriate weather to assist their plants in growing healthily. Inari Okami is also associated with prosperity, business and rice cultivation allowing him to answer the prayers of wishful farmers and agriculturalists.

As well as Inari Okami, visitors also have the option to visit and pray to the rest of the seven lucky gods while here. In different wooden structures and found in the various small temple buildings you’ll see each one adorned with offerings ready to be worshipped.

Why are there so many foxes at the Toyokawa Inari Shrine?

There are roughly 1000 Shinto Fox statues of varying sizes found throughout the grounds. Some are much more obvious than others. But why foxes exactly?

When you think about the issues many farmers worldwide face, there are certain rodents and animals that cause havoc on farms by eating and damaging crops. This is where foxes come in. Throughout rural areas of Japan, it is common to keep foxes around because they usually kill and eat the rodents causing damage to the farms and the farmers have come to rely on them to protect their land and crops.

This means that foxes are often thought of as helpful creatures throughout the countryside. So, although this temple is located in a bustling Tokyo neighbourhood, it is home to a fox deity so visitors can pay thanks to foxes nationwide.

Common traits of an Inari Shrine:

As well as paying to the specific deity Inari Okami, you’ll find fox statues and images, the colour red and something else that may surprise you, Torii Gates.

You’ve likely seen Torii Gates at many different holy and spiritual sites in Japan, and unusually these gates are associated with the Shinto religion and Inari.

On the grounds of Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex, you’ll see this bright red Torii Gate at one of the entrances to the main shrine. Traditionally, Torii Gates symbolise the gateway from the plain lands to the sacred which is why they are often located at the entrance of a holy place.

Amenities found at the Tokyo Fox shrine

Because the shrine is so centrally located in the heart of the city, it has many useful amenities close by including subways, bus stops and convenience stores.

The grounds of the shrine also have multiple vending machines so you can purchase a drink or snacks, which is useful first thing in the morning when many other amenities are unavailable. There is a restroom on the property and even a small stall to purchase souvenirs, courtesy of the shrine staff who frequent the grounds.

If you do purchase snacks or drinks, please remember that this is a sacred place so you need to take all rubbish/trash with you. Please do not be disrespectful to the grounds by littering.

Have you visited the Toyokawa Inari Tokyo Annex / Fox Shrine yet? If so, what did you think?