
Kitsune fox sculptures adorned with red aprons, carved from stone as divine guardians of the Shinto Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine in Kyoto’s Fushimi-ku district (Japan). These iconic landmarks, surrounded by thousands of vibrant red torii gates, rank among the most visited cultural and tourist attractions in the region.
At the Inari shrine, a kitsune holding a key to the rice granary welcomes visitors. Its raised tail and stern expression signify its role as a guardian. The other kitsune in the pair greets visitors with a pleasant expression. Both kitsune at Fushimi Inari have one tail, while some kitsune depicted as spirits or souls in paintings have multiple tails.
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan