Prayer Time at Toyokawa Inari Temple

An intimate little temple where locals come to pray

Larry Knipfing Apr 09, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Many of the fox statues have lost their sharp ears; this one now looks likes a llama</p>

<p>This elderly woman had a plastic bag full of small coins; she went from prayer station to prayer station, made an offering and prayed, then went to the next one</p>

<p>Torii like this are usually found at shrines</p>

<p>Looking down inside one of the mini-temples that are around the precinct</p>

<p>This young man has just finished praying</p>

<p>Incense sticks offered up for prayer; in the background are prayer boards</p>

<p>Besides foxes, there are also frogs here at Toyokawa Inari Temple, Akasaka</p>

<p>Stone lantern and Buddhist statue</p>

<p>A woman making the rounds of the many prayer stations here</p>

<p>A Buddhist statue soaking up the sunshine</p>

On the three occasions that I have visited Toyokawa Inari Temple in Akasaka, a stream of locals from the neighborhood stopped in to offer up their prayers.

Besides the main building and prayer hall, the temple also has many smaller alters situated around the precincts. Many of those praying would go from one alter to the next, ring the bell or offer up incense, offer up a short prayer, then move on to the next alter or mini-temple.

It was fascinating to watch, and along with the many fox statues, had me liking this temple very much.

Toyokawa Inari Temple

Larry Knipfing @larry.knipfing

Born on Long Island, New York in 1958, I have spent the last 30 years of my life living in Japan, and enjoying every minute of it! I especially love photography, and Japan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world to photograph! My other love is fiction writing and I have pub...