foxes – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

A Visit to Zao Fox Village (Fukushima, Japan)

Susan Spann Blog August 3, 2018foxes, Fukushima, Japan, kitsune, village, Zao Fox Village

In between climbing mountains for the #100Summits project, I’m also visiting sites of cultural and historical significance across Japan. Yesterday, my husband and I hopped a shinkansen (bullet train) to Fukushima Prefecture–a little less than 250 kilometers–to visit one of Japan’s most unusual sanctuary/zoos: Zao Fox Village. As the name suggests, the park is a combination zoo and sanctuary for foxes (known as “kitsune” in Japan). Among Japan’s most honored creatures, kitsune are considered messengers of Inari Okami, one of the most important deities in the Shintō pantheon.

To the Summit of Fushimi Inari Shrine

Susan Spann Blog May 1, 2017November 8, 2017foxes, Fushimi inari, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Inariyama, Japan, Mount Inari, rice, Shinto, shrines

The walk to the summit of Inariyama (Mount Inari) takes between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on your personal fitness, pace, and whether or not you choose to stop for lunch or tea along the way.

The Cats of Fushimi Inari

Susan Spann Blog April 20, 2017November 8, 2017cats, foxes, Fushimi inari, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Japan, kitsune, photography

Like many Japanese shrines and temples, Fushimi Inari Taisha, south of Kyoto, has its share of resident cats. Although not numerous, the cats appear to be permanent residents of the shrine, and though some, like this little fellow: seem to live on the mountain itself. That said, unlike most feral cats, the residents of Fushimi Inari seemed eager for human attention. The handsome tuxedo in the photo above followed me along the path, meowing insistently, until I stopped to pet him. A group of visitors gathered behind me, pointing at the cat, and as soon as I left him they moved in

Ootoyo Jinja – Kyoto’s Hidden Jewel

Admin Uncategorized December 18, 2015foxes, guardian mice, Inari shrines, Japan, Ootoyo Jinja, shinto shrines

I’d never heard of Ootoyo Jinja before I walked Kyoto’s famous philosopher’s path–and even then, I might have missed it easily had I not been in a curious mood. The shrine lies east of the path, marked only by a small wooden sign with an arrow pointing travelers in the right direction. Its unassuming entrance is marked by carved stone dogs whose mossy smiles reveal nothing about the nature of what lies beyond. Travel up a hill and through the torii gate that marks the entrance, and you’ll discover a hidden jewel–one of the most unique Shinto shrines in Kyoto. The shrine lies on the side of