This blog post will introduce Kuchiire Inari Shrine (口入稲荷神社) in Kiyokawa of Tokyo.
Kuchiire Inari Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in Taito Ward of Tokyo. This shrine is a subordinate shrine of Tamahime Inari Shrine (玉姫稲荷神社).
This shrine is located a 10-minute walk from Minami-Senju Station on the Hibiya Line or the Joban Line. It takes 3 minutes on foot from Kitokawa 1-Chome Stop on Megurin North Route (via Asakusa.)
Kuchiire Inari Shrine enshrines Inari (稲荷神), a Shinto goddess of agriculture. Her blessings include good harvests, business success, household safety, performance art improvement, etc.
Takadaya, an employment agency in Shin-Yoshiwara, built Kuchiire Inari Shrine late in the 18th century.
Kuchiire Inari Shrine’s “Kuchiire (口入れ)” means introducing jobs and marriages. Therefore, this shrine is famous among people who want to get a good job, hire a good employee, or meet a good spouse.
This blog post is also available in Plain Japanese and in Yasashii Nihongo (やさしい日本語). You can refer to them from the following links:
History
According to Kuchiire Inari Shrine, its history dates to the 18th century.
A long time ago, there was a Kuchiireya (口入れ屋) called Takadaya in Yoshihara Yukaku (吉原遊郭). Kuchiireya is an agency that introduces jobs and marriages during the Edo and Meiji eras.
Takadaya has a small Inari Shrine in its garden. One night, the owner of Takadaya received a divine revelation from the Inari. In the revelation, Inari told him to relocate the Inari Shrine in the garden to Tamahime Inari Shrine in the neighborhood.
He moved his Inari Shrine from the garden to Tamahime Inari Shrine on November 20th. So that is the beginning of Kuchiire Inari Shrine. It was around 1772 to 1781.
An Enshrined Goddess and Her Blessingss
Uka no Mitama no Mikoto (宇迦之御魂命)
Kuchiire Inari Shrine enshrines Uka no Mitama no Mikoto, also known as Inari (稲荷神).
Each Shinto god (or goddess) often has several aliases in Japan. For example, Uka no Mitama no Mikoto also has other names such as Inari Okami (稲荷大神) and Ukemochi no Kami (宇気母智神) in addition to Inari.
Uka no Mitama no Mikoto is a Shinto goddess of grain, agriculture, industry, etc. Her blessings include good harvests, business successes, household safety, performance art improvements, etc.
Highlights
Blessings of the Goddess
Kuchiire Inari Shrine’s “Kuchiire (口入れ)” means taking charge of employment opportunities and marriage talks. Therefore, this shrine helps one who wants to get a good job, hires a good employee, or meets a good spouse. This shrine is in the area where was once called the most disadvantaged neighborhood in Tōkyō. You can easily imagine that local people had faith in this shrine for a better financial situation.
Fox Dolls
You see many Kuchiire-kitsune dolls (口入狐) dedicated at the worship hall of Kuchiire Inari Shrine. Kuchiire-kitsune dolls are fox dolls of Imado-yaki ware (今戸焼) from the Imado district in Asakusa. You can find similar folk dolls at Hikan Inari Shrine in Asakusa and Tateishi Inari Shrine in Tateishi.
You can purchase a Kuchiire-kitsune doll at the shrine office of Tamahime Inari Shrine. There are two types of Kuchiire-kitsune dolls:
- Haori-kitsune (羽織狐), a standing male fox wearing a Haori jacket over a kimono;
- Kamishimo-kitsune (裃狐), a sitting female fox wearing a Kamishimo dress.
If you pray for business, obtain a Haori-kitsune doll, and if you pray for marriage, buy a Kamishimo-kitsune doll.
Take your Kuchiire-kitsune doll home and place it on a Kamidana or shelf. Pray in the morning and evening so that your wish will come true. When your wish is answered, take the fox doll to Kuchiire Inari Shrine back. Then purchase the other type of fox dolls, and dedicate the couple fox dolls to the shrine.
Other Useful Information
Opening Hours (Tamahime Inari Shrine)
- From 09:00 to 17:00 (Tamahime Inari Shrine’s office)
TEL
- 03-3872-3411 (Tamahime Inari Shrine’s office)
Address
- Kiyokawa 2-13, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0022
Google Map
Public Transport (Train)
- 10 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the JR Line
- 10 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the Joban Line
- 10 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the Tokyo Metoro Hibiya Line
- 10 minutes on foot from Minami-Senju Station on the Tsukuba Express Line
Public Transport (Megurin Bus)
- 3 minutes on foot from #9 Kiyokawa 1-Chome Stop on Megurin North Route (via Asakusa)
- 3 minutes on foot from #30 Kiyokawa 1-Chome Stop on Megurin North-South Route
If you want to visit Kuchiire Inari Shrine from Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line, take Megurin North-South Route. On the other hand, if you go to this shrine from Asakusa Station, take Megurin North Route (via Asakusa.)
If you want to go back to Minowa Sation from Kuchiire Inari Shrine, take Megurin North Route (via Asakusa.) If you go back to Asakusa from this shrine, take Megurin North-South Route.
Megurin Bus is a community bus operated by Taito Ward of Tokyo. This bus is very convenient when you are sightseeing in the Asakusa area. For more information about Megurin Bus, please refer to the following blog post:
Public Restroom Availability
- No (You can use a public restroom in Tamahime Park next to Kuchiire Inari Shrine)
Reference
