Yutoku Inari Shrine (Kashima)
祐徳稲荷神社（鹿島） · Saga Prefecture · Kashima City
At the foot of Mount Ishikabe in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture; one of Japan's Three Great Inari Shrines, alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Kasama Inari in Ibaraki, with visitors on the order of 3 million a year.
Know before you go
- Red lines: do not make loud noise before the main hall or enter closed areas. Taboos: do not carve torii gates or tie strings to them, and do not touch sacred objects or fox-statue offerings. Good manners: wash hands and rinse the mouth before worship, and follow the usual shrine rite of two bows, two claps and one bow, as posted on site. Common mistakes for outsiders: (1) mocking foxes in photos as if they were the deity itself — foxes are Inari's messengers and deserve respect
- (2) seeing only the main hall without realising the inner shrine's thousand torii require a mountain climb, and going in sandals.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Founding Yutoku Inari Shrine
The Nabeshima family of Kashima domain founded Yutoku Inari Shrine in 1687. Family tradition links it to Princess Manko bringing a branch spirit of Inari. Its gate, main hall and upper sanctuary reflect the continuing local worship of Inari.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
built in 1687 on Mount Ishikabe by Manko-hime (Kazan'in Manko), wife of Kashima lord Nabeshima Naotomo, who invited a divided spirit from Fushimi Inari in Kyoto; called “Chinzei Nikko”; the main deities include Ukanomitama; the main hall is a stage-style building about 18 metres high, reached by about 110 stone steps; after a major fire in 1949, the present main hall was rebuilt in 1957.
Local customs
- (1) Worship at the vermilion main hall (本殿) and tower gate (楼門)
- (2) climb to the inner shrine (奥の院) through a thousand torii gates (千本鳥居), about 20–30 minutes
- (3) taste firecracker yokan (爆竹ようかん) on the approach shopping street (参道商店街)
- (4) seasonal views in the shrine garden (庭園)
- (5) fox statues (狐像) and votive plaques, Ema (絵馬), for prayers.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Red lines: do not make loud noise before the main hall or enter closed areas. Taboos: do not carve torii gates or tie strings to them, and do not touch sacred objects or fox-statue offerings. Good manners: wash hands and rinse the mouth before worship, and follow the usual shrine rite of two bows, two claps and one bow, as posted on site. Common mistakes for outsiders: (1) mocking foxes in photos as if they were the deity itself — foxes are Inari's messengers and deserve respect
- (2) seeing only the main hall without realising the inner shrine's thousand torii require a mountain climb, and going in sandals.
Locals appreciate DO
Please respect local residents, open areas, and on-site rules.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Getting there | Intercity: about 10 minutes by bus from JR Hizen-Kashima Station on the Nagasaki Main Line to the shrine front; about 1 hour by car from Saga City. Local: on foot. Tickets and payment: shrine worship is free; buses take IC cards or cash; the inner-shrine climb is free. Fare scales are as officially published. |
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Travel tips
Main-hall worship takes about 1 hour, plus about 1 hour round trip for the inner shrine. New Year and festival periods are extremely crowded — visit off-peak. Ema and amulet prices are as posted on site.
Sources & verification notes
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