A 10 minute walk from Iwanuma station will put you at the eastern entrance to Takekoma Inari. Takekoma was founded in 842 A.D. by Ono no Takamura making it the second oldest Inari shrine in all of Japan. The first is Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan's culture capital of Kyoto. Inari shrines are Shinto shrines to the fox gods of fertility, rice, tea, sake and industry. More than one-third of the shrines in Japan are Inari shrines.
The unmistakable evidence of an Inari Shrine, giant orange torii, will let you know you have arrived at one of the two main gates. Approaching from the eastern gate will give the best views with a stroll through a very nice garden that contains a monument to the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho, several artful tree sculptures, and in March and April blooming plum and cherry blossoms.
For the complete article by Andrew Kehohe with more pictures go to http://en.japantravel.com/view/takekoma-inari
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