Shrines in Japan

Thousands of foxes are said to gather and parade across the neighborhood of Ōji on New Year’s Eve.

A rare north-facing Ksitigarbha statue enshrined in a passageway off Osaka’s busiest area.

Up on the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower sits an American mascot that became Osaka’s own lucky god.

A mountain demon once helped a local villager construct a canal, after which he sat on this oak tree to rest.

A mystical shrine dedicated to a forest that once covered the area and the legendary fox spirit who lived there.

This ornate example of 19th-century Chinese architecture is one of only a handful of Confucius shrines in Japan.

A whimsical shrine with a porcelain Torii gate, split in half by an active train line.

This shrine is home to an unusual trifold torii and a replica Trafalgar Square lion.

According to local folklore, a demon left his handprints on these boulders, which became the prefecture’s namesake.

This 400-year-old noodle joint was once frequented by a fox-turned-monk, according to local folklore.

An atmospheric shrine of mountain worship that is home to a number of curious folk tales.

A pair of rivaling shrines dedicated to Lady Oiwa, the most famous vengeful ghost in Japan.

This shrine, built to protect against destructive waves, is home to two monumental lion heads.

Outside of where Tsukiji Market once stood, these memorials honor the spirits of the fallen fish, shrimp, and eggs used for nigiri.

A replica of an ancient alien-like idol humorously represents spectacles in a corner of this shrine complex.

This one-of-a-kind shrine is dedicated to a girl who was too beautiful for her own good.