카마쿠라의 사스케 이나리 신사

빨간 도리이 사이로 점점 사라지는 두 관광객

반 쯤 올라가면 신사 주변에서 많은 흰 여우들을 볼 수 있습니다.

사스케 이나리 신사는 여우들로 유명합니다. 비록 보통은 흰 여우로 번역되지만, 이나리(여우신)는 풍요, 쌀, 차, 사케, 농업의 신토 신과 정신적인 전령으로 오랜 시간 동안 숭배되어 왔습니다. 

Also found in many religious places are `koma-inu` (large dogs), which are generally kept inside the inner shrine so as not to be visible to the public

When climbing Sasuke Inari`s long staircases you will probably begin to feel like your every footstep is being closely watched!

The long climb up these stairs will take you to a courtyard where there is a shrine dedicated to Inari

Another pair of eyes is watching you!

Around the main courtyard are several 'mini-shrines' containing many minature white Inari

Just some of the many countless rows of Inari

Just when you thought you couldn`t see any more foxes a large shrine will suddenly appear in front of you, containing several hundred, if not thousands of these little creatures

Up close it`s difficult to say if they are cute or eerie

These tiny Inari are not just found inside buildings but also outside in the open

In fact they are everywhere!

There is even a small garden dedicated to Inari containing many 'mini-shrines' and monuments to the Fox God

From the top of this garden you can follow the hill upwards which joins the Daibutsu Hiking Course or return back down the long staircase if you want to disappear once more into the thick sea of red torii