Fox Statue at Fushimi Inari Entrance

Stone fox statues stand as vigilant sentinels at the entrance to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Known as kitsune, these figures represent the messengers of Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, and prosperity. Since the shrine’s founding in seven hundred eleven, these foxes have been venerated for their role as protectors of the sacred grounds. The statues appear in pairs, frequently wearing red votive bibs that symbolize a benevolent divinity.