Table of Contents
Brief introduction:
Kita Special Ward has two shrines, starting with the same name Oji, Oji Shrine, and Oji Inari Shrine. Some tourists get confused because of it, but these two shrines are entirely different from each other.
However, the Oji Inari Shrine is famous for Fox Parade Festival, and Oji Shrine is famous for weddings. Oji Inari Shrine is located between Oji Shrine and Nanushi no Taki Garden.
(Find out more tourist activities, hotels, restaurants about your Tokyo trip)
It is believed that the shrine was built before 11-century. Fox symbolizes the main deity here, where people come to offer their prayers for fortune and fertility.
Main Gate:
The main gate is mainly closed because of the Kindergarten. Usually, on weekdays, Kindergarten is open, and the main entrance remains closed.
But the small secondary gate is open in the south. The shrine runs the Kindergarten and uses half of the ground for it.
So, holidays or Saturdays and Sundays are a perfect time to visit the shrine.
Main Hall:
The main Hall faces toward the main gate. On the right side of the Main Hall is the lucky charm counter, and the left side is Kaguraden and the second gate.
There is a tori gate between the lucky charm counter and the Main Hall, which leads to a small Shrine. At the back of the small shrine, there are many small tori gates and fox idols.
Most of the tourists miss the place because it is almost hidden. But when they arrive in front of the small shrine, they can notice the back tori gates and the fox idols.
Kaguraden:
Kaguraden is actually a stage where dances and plays are performed during festivals. It is near the secondary gate attached to the Main Hall.
Festivals:
Among the festivals, Hatsumode, Fox Parade, and Toko-chi festivals are most famous at Oji Inari Shrine.
Toko-chi:
Two-three times, many stalls or small shops are set up near the shrine, and many performances use Kaguraden during the time. Toko-chi festival takes place in February.
Hatsumode and Fox Parade festivals:
New Year is called Hatsumode, and Fox Parade is called Kitsune-no-Gyoretsu. These two festivals are totally different from one another. However, these two festivals take place at the same time at Oji Inari Shrine.
Foxes are considered servants of the Inari god, a symbol of fortune and fertility.
During the festival, participants dress like foxes and parade. The parade starts from Shozoku Inari Shrine to Oji Inari Shrine.
Interestingly, the Fox Parade starts moving towards Oji Inari Shrine at 0.00 am from Shozoku Inari Shrine and arrives around 0.45 am, which means it starts at the same time New Year start celebrating.
As soon as the Fox Parade arrives at Oji Inari Shrine, lion dances are performed at the Kagurden. Simultaneously, the local people lineup at the gate to perform their Hatsumode or New Year visit to Inari god at the temple.
According to legend, the Fox Parade started in 1993, and every year it is being celebrated.
Access:
Oji station:
JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, Toden Arakawa Line and Tokyo Metro Namboku Line.
8 minutes walk from the station
Address:
1-12-26 Kishi-machi, Kita City, Tokyo