Motonosumi Inari Shrine: A Must-See Shrine, as Designated by CNN!

Shikoku / chugoku Tour Motonosumi inari shrine

2019.05.23

This Inari Shrine is just as beautiful as Kyoto, if not more!

Superb Views of 123 Torii Shrine Gates

Thanks to the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha, plenty of visitors to Japan have seen an Inari shrine long before arriving in the country. The most famous of these, and the one in the movie, is the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, where there are paths lined with beautiful red shrine gates, or torii (鳥居). But most travelers have no idea that Kyoto is not the only place to see this cool sight!

Today we're talking about the Motonosumi Inari Shrine (元乃隅稲成神社) far in south-western Japan, which has its own claim to fame with a beautiful seaside path, lined with 123 red torii. It's so beautiful, in fact, that CNN has chosen it as one of the most beautiful sightseeing spots in Japan. (High praise in a country packed with amazing views!)

They say that if you make a wish as you walk down the path, making your way all the way down to the cliff below, your wish will come true! There's no way to know if this is true, but you might say that getting to see such a beautiful view is a dream come true in and of itself.

A Spectacular Coastal View

A local fisherman established this particular shrine in 1955, after seeing a white fox in a dream. Foxes are a symbol of Inari, the god worshipped at this shrine, so to the fisherman it was a clear sign.

Maybe you'll get lucky and see a fox during your trip! Or maybe you'll only get a little bit lucky, and be stuck enjoying the beautiful view of vibrant red torii against a blue ocean background.

Motonosumi Inari Shrine (元乃隅稲成神社)
498 Yuyatsuo, Nagato, Yamaguchi

Get a Coin into the Box for Some Extra Luck!

An extra-high donation box.
The gates never end!

Unlike most shrines, this one has a donation box high set high above everyone's heads. At the top of a shrine gate, it's good luck if you can even get your coins in to donate!

So, what do you think? Have you had enough of the crowded Fushimi Inari Shrine, and are you ready to hang out with some torii and take some gorgeous pictures that aren't full of strangers? For anyone heading to Yamaguchi, or any traveler looking for a more unique shrine experience, try out Motonosumi Inari Shrine!

⇩ Get an even better look in our video below. ⇩