Takayama Inari templeis a Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Inari Ōkami. It stands on a hill in the town of Tsugaru, in northern Japan, a few kilometres northeast of Aomori.
The Takayama Inari shrine seems to have been founded in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is believed that the powerful Ando clan that ruled the region at the time built it as a place of worship. It was once called "San-oh-jinja", but was renamed at the end of the Edo era (mid-19th century).
It is best known for the winding path through the red torii gates, a feature common to all Japanese Inari shrines.
This site is dedicated to productive harvests, safety at sea and business acumen. Many farmers, merchants and managers come to pray and make offerings for the success of their businesses.
A smaller version of the famous Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, the Takayama Inari Jinja is known as the "Fushimi Inari of the North". It has only about 200 red gates, compared to over 10,000 in Kyoto.
Each of these red gates is an offering to the shrine from a believer, so the path has gradually expanded over time.
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