A Dragon Surprise at Fushimi Inari

Many Japanese shrines have sub-shrines dedicated to kami (gods or divinities) other than the shrine’s primary patron. Fushimi Inari is no exception. Partway up the mountain, a narrow path branches off the primary trail–if you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to miss. If you follow the path a little way through the bamboo forest, you reach a shrine dedicated to Japan’s guardian dragons (ryu), where I saw this lovely statue:

Read more