Coastal sanctuary with 123 red torii gates along the Japan Sea, Motonosumi Inari Shrine.
Coastal sanctuary with vibrant red torii gates along the Japan Sea at Motonosumi Inari Shrine.

Motonosumi Inari Shrine

Motonosumi Inari Shrine is located in western Japan, far from the rest of the world. The nearest city, 80 kilometres away, is Yamaguchi. Never heard of it?

Motonosumi Inari Shrine is located in western Japan, far from the rest of the world. The nearest city, 80 kilometres away, is Yamaguchi. Never heard of it? It’s also the capital of the prefecture of the same name 🙂 No, it’s not very touristy. Otherwise, 160 kilometres away, is Fukuoka; 200 kilometres away, Hiroshima. There shouldn’t be so much as a cat here!

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I go there with my parents to watch the sunset. Surprise, surprise: around thirty cars queuing for a space in the small parking lot. I find a secluded spot a kilometre from the entrance to hide the car, in cheeky rascal mood. Don’t want to miss this sunset!

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My obsession with torii is satiated: 123 of them stand here, snaking gracefully along the reef. We’re captivated by the beauty of the site! The sea is beautiful, the torii blazing red, the sky fabulous. My father performs the biglemoi (energy dance …).

But don’t you particularly notice the freshness of the site?

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There’s a good reason. This shrine is recent! It only dates back to 1955 …

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… when a white fox appeared to a local fisherman, promising him the earth if he erected this shrine. No mention of these famous torii at the time.

Indeed, the torii were built during the last renovation, between 1987 and 1997, by a solitary workman! A colossal effort but a touristic stroke of genius, no doubt about that 🙂

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Isn’t the result just perfect?

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As for me, I just wish that all the humans could be replaced by deer, or better still by foxes. Oh, if only I had a magic wand.

Of course, we don’t visit a shrine just for the pleasure of gazing upon it, do we? Those who want their wildest dreams to come true have to try and throw their offerings (small coins, not fruit and veg!) into the little box you can see at the top of the torii below. Someone’s just having a go.

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Motonosumi Inari Shrine

We don’t catch the sunset, but the view from the top of the shrine is so sublime that I admire the changing colours from there. I can’t get enough of it.

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This was the starting point for an incredible two-week trip with my parents, which they’ll never forget. And me neither!

chugoku, japan, japanese, religion, religious, shinto, shrine, spiritual, thing, tori, yamaguchi

If you are a torii fan like me, then you might be interested in some of my earlier articles: the 1st day of the year at Orai Shrine: Ocean Gateway, my getaway to Fushimi Inari Shrine at Night, or even the torii among the Azaleas of Nezu Shrine.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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White forms dance skyward, Green mountains cradle the art, Under cloud-kissed blue. 白い形空へ舞う、 緑の山が芸術を抱き、 雲にキスした青の下で。#sculptureart #japaneseart #naturemeetsart #modernsculpture #offbeatjapan #japan #travelphotography
Darkened stalls await, Whispers of daikagura, Colors in silence. 暗い屋台、 大神楽の囁き、 色の静寂。#offbeatjapan #japan #daikagura #festivalmood #moodytones #wanderlust #hiddenjapan #haiku
Stone pagoda stands, Cosmos in bloom, moon above— Tranquil whispers hum. ---石塔立つ コスモス咲き、月上に— 静寂の囁き ---#offbeatjapan #japan #explorejapan #hiddenjapan #naturephotography #pagoda #serenity #cosmosflowers
Electric rivers, Neon veins pulse through the night— Silent power flows. 電気の川 夜に脈打つネオン— 静かな力が流れる #industrialjapan #neonlights #japanbynight #technologymagic #urbanreflections #offbeatjapan #japan
Scarlet gates basking, Lanterns whisper in the night— Ancient spirits glow. 朱色の鳥居 夜に囁く灯籠 古の魂光る #offbeatjapan #japan #torii #nightmagic #kyoto #shinto #lanternlight #sacredpathway
Blue neon whispers, Winter's glow on sacred paths— Snow dreams softly fall. 青いネオン 聖なる道に舞う、 雪の夢。 #offbeatjapan #japan #neonatnight #winterinJapan #snowyscenes #japanphotos #urbanmagic
Scarlet lantern lights, Leading through nature's embrace— A temple's whisper.赤き灯火 緑に包まれて 寺の囁き#offbeatjapan #japan #mysticalpath #sacredsteps #traditionallanterns #spiritualretreat #templejourney
Rust whispers secrets, in shadows of steel and dust, time's ghostly embrace. 錆が秘密をささやく、 鋼と埃の影に、 時の幽霊の抱擁。 #urbanexploration #haikupoetry #industrialdecay #forgottenworlds #offbeatjapan #japan #postapocalyptic