Inari Shrines, Japan - Shrine

Temple

Inari is one of the chief deities that are found in Japan and it is connected with fertility, rice, agriculture and foxes. The goddess can be portrayed in both male and female form and thought to protect the interests of the farmers along with their harvests. This deity is also personally related with the magical shape shifting fox which acts as its herald. Today the original deity has been reinstated in most places with the herald, which has gained significance in the recent times. Inari myths draws its heredity from both male and female forms of deities, earlier it was linked with the Shinto Goddess of Agriculture called Uga no Mitami no Kami as well as the male god of Grains known as Uka no Mitama no Mikoto.