11/22/2025
This morning we went to see the Nori gates at the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine - and a few things before I start sending pictures a little later.
1. It is crowded.
2. If you climb to the summit it takes about an hour or so (allowing for stops) and you will have climbed some 233 meters -
3. There is a path and roadway along the backside that bypasses the crowds on the way up so you can enjoy descending through the gates.
4. The gates are well…. A source of money. They are PURCHASED and deliberately made of wood and when they rot they are chopped out and replaced with newly purchased gates - anyone can buy a gate. YOU can even purchase a nori gate to have thrown onto a pile of others at one of the temples until It too rots. It eill be mich smaller.
5. I was SHOCKED at how many people were tramping through there who woild throw down their belongings amid the crowds to take selfies.
6. The spirit guardians are foxes.
7. Onari Okami is the deity of harvest, rice, prosperity, and sake.
8. This is the head shrine of the 30,000 inari shrines.
9. The Tori are a symbol of gratitude.
10. Businessmen and corporations have of course purchased many of the tori in hope of or in celebration of their success.
