The Motono Sumino Inari Shrine in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, was selected as one of the “31 Beautiful Places in Japan” announced by the U.S. TV station CNN in 2015.
The Cobalt Blue Sea of Japan and the mysterious scenery created by red-colored Torii in parallel are popular now.
You can go one day trip from Fukuoka prefecture.
I will introduce a hidden scenic spot in Japan, where many people still don’t know.
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Motonosumi Inari Shrine, a hot topic among foreigners
Motonosumi Inari Shrine
Motonosumi Inari Shrine, located in Yuya, Nagato
City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is the Inari Shrine in the northwesternmost part of Honshu, where the Taikodani Inari Shinto Shrine in Shimane Prefecture was built in 1955.
It is reported that a white fox appeared at the pillow of the local fisherman Saito Okamoto, and was built when he was told, “Who has been fishing up to now?” and “Let us hold a festival here.”
There are more than 30,000 Inari Shinto shrines in Japan, but the only shrines that use the kanji “Inari”(nari is 成) are Taikodani Inari and Motonosumi Inari Shrine.
“nari” is derived from “Fulfillment” and is it meant that various aspirations are fulfilled.
Although the shrine itself is not very large, it is said to have many benefits, including business prosperity, mass prayers, marriages, treasures, opening luck, happiness, traffic safety, education, and fulfillment of wishes.
Since the fox was used as a God, the stone statue of the fox is placed in the Torii on the back road where the money box is placed.
Japan’s most spectacular scenery, selected as one of Japan’s Most Beautiful Places 31
Motonosumi Inari Shrine is a shrine that has attracted a great deal of attention from overseas tourists in recent years.
The company was selected as one of Japan’s most beautiful sites in the CNN survey, and has attracted a great deal of attention from around the world.
In the 31st election, the world’s most famous places are the Itsukushima Shrine, Shirakawa-go chorus, Kinkakuji Temple, and Himeji Castle, which are also World Heritage Sites.
“Inari” is famous in Japan for its Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, but the beauty of this Motonosumi Inari Shrine is also worth to see.
When you visit such a shrine, here are the highlights that you must not miss!
1. A superb view created by the vermilion and blue contrast
One of the most attractive features of the Motonosumi Inari Shrine is the vermilion-painted Torii, which leans over the hills and surrounds the sea.
It was built over a period of 10 years from 1987.
The total number is 123 pieces with good luck, and the tunnel is more than 100 meters long.
The appearance of red torii in a magnificent natural environment looking for the Sea of Japan is a beautiful scenery full of Japanese character and attracts the spectators.
Recently, this tunnel has become popular as a power spot, and the number of visitors to the shrine is rapidly increasing.
It is a common way to visit from a shrine on a cliff to the sea through a torii tunnel.
The tunnel begins with a slow downhill and starts from the middle to the stairs.
Since your feet are hurried a lot, be careful when you pass by!
2.Azure Sea of Japan and White Splash “Ryugu Squirting”
This cliff was recognized as a national natural monument in August 1934.
The brilliant appearance of the waves crashing against the rock wall entering the cavern cut by waves called “Ryugu” and blowing up with a loud noise is called “Ryugu squirting”
This is a cliff at the end of the tunnel in Torii, which can be seen as lucky.
When it is high, it’s as long as 30 meters.
This phenomenon is likely to occur when the wind from the north is high and the waves from the sea are high.
From autumn to winter, there seems to be a chance to see the conditions easily.
3. The most difficult offer box in Japan
A must-see spot at Motonosumi Inari Shrine is a offer box that is famous for being the hardest place in Japan.
If you look closely at the Torii gate near the parking lot, you can find a offer box at a height of about 5 meters above the torii gate.
To throw money into the box, you have to throw the coin out of the sky with all your energy!
It is a difficult task to hit.
This highly placed offer box was thought of as the idea of the Shinto priest.
My heart is at ease in such an interesting episode.
Motonosumi Inari Shrine is located in Nagto City, northern Yamaguchi Prefecture. There are many good natural ports and many beautiful seas, which are also attractive.
Spots you definitely want to visit, Tsunoshima Ohashi Bridge
This is the Tsunoshima Ohashi, about 40 kilometers away from the Motonosumi Inari Shrine.
It is a new tourist attraction in Yamaguchi that was established in 2000, and is a superb view of Nagato that anyone who knows can see while crossing this elegant curved bridge connecting Kakushima and the mainland.
When you cross a bridge surrounded by the deep blue sea, you feel as if you are running on the sky. The bridge, which was built in consideration of the natural scenery, has also won the Excellence Award of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers Design Award 2003.
Not only during the day, but also at sunset.
Access
Access to the shrine by public bus or train is difficult.
For sightseeing, please come by rental car or taxi.
A taxi arrives in about 20 minutes from the nearest JR Nagato Furuichi Station.
The approximate fare is about 2200 yen per way.
Motonosumi Inari Shrine has a superb view that makes you lose words.
There are lots of shooting spots that make you want to release the shutter, such as the scenery of 123 torii gates and the beautiful Sea of Japan.
There are many attractions around the shrine!
After eating a delicious Italian, enjoying the surrounding scenic spots such as Tsunoshima Ohashi, a luxurious course to heal the tiredness of the day at a hot spring is recommended.
information
Name: Motonosumi Inari Shrine
Address: 498 Aburayatsu Yellow, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture