Toyokawa Inari in Aichi Prefecture may look like a Shinto shrine at first. Its grounds contain large torii gates, rows of fox statues, and a main hall associated with prayers for business prosperity.
However, Toyokawa Inari is officially a Soto Zen Buddhist temple. Its formal name is Enpukuzan Toyokawakaku Myogonji, usually shortened to Myogonji. The torii gate does not lead to a separate shrine hidden inside the temple grounds.
Why, then, does a Buddhist temple use the name “Inari,” and why does it have torii gates and foxes? This guide explains the unusual history of Toyokawa Inari, its main highlights, the surrounding food street, visiting hours, and access from Tokyo and Nagoya.
Why do fox statues appear at so many Inari sites, and what do the keys, jewels, rice sheaves, and scrolls they carry represent? Read our guide to the meaning of foxes at Inari shrines to understand the symbolism before your visit.
What Is Toyokawa Inari?
Toyokawa Inari is a Soto Zen temple founded in 1441 in what is now Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture.
For centuries, people have visited to pray for business success, household safety, protection from misfortune, and good fortune. Although its formal name is Myogonji, most people know it by its popular name, Toyokawa Inari.
The temple complex covers approximately 12.73 hectares and contains more than 90 halls, gates, and other structures. It is much larger than its position near the station might suggest.
Why Is a Buddhist Temple Called “Toyokawa Inari”?
Myogonji enshrines Toyokawa Dakini Shinten, a protective deity associated with the temple.
Toyokawa Dakini Shinten appears carrying rice sheaves and riding a white fox. Because of this image, people gradually began referring to the temple as “Toyokawa Inari,” and the popular name eventually became better known than Myogonji.
The temple does not worship foxes themselves. The central figure is Toyokawa Dakini Shinten, even though fox statues appear throughout the grounds.
This distinction is important because many travelers associate foxes and the word “Inari” exclusively with Shinto shrines such as Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.
A Torii Gate Does Not Always Mean a Shinto Shrine
For international visitors, one of the easiest ways to distinguish a shrine from a temple is to look at its entrance.
A torii gate usually marks a Shinto shrine, while a large temple gate, often called a sanmon, generally indicates a Buddhist temple. This remains a useful guideline, but Toyokawa Inari is a notable exception.
The large torii inside the grounds does not lead to an independent Shinto shrine. The entire complex belongs to the Buddhist temple Myogonji, and the torii stands in front of the Main Hall where Toyokawa Dakini Shinten is enshrined.
This unusual combination reflects shinbutsu shugo, the long history of blending Shinto and Buddhist beliefs in Japan. Before the government formally separated the two traditions in the late 19th century, people often worshipped kami, Buddhist figures, and protective deities within closely connected religious spaces. Toyokawa Inari preserves some of that layered history today.
A similar example can be found at Mogami Inari in Okayama Prefecture. Despite its torii gate and shrine-like main hall, Mogami Inari is formally a Nichiren Buddhist temple called Myokyoji. It also retains features associated with the earlier blending of Buddhism and Shinto.
How Should You Pray at Toyokawa Inari?
Although Toyokawa Inari has torii gates, it is a Buddhist temple. At the Main Hall, place your offering and quietly bring your hands together in prayer. Do not clap or follow the two-bows, two-claps, one-bow ritual used at Shinto shrines.
What Are Japan’s Three Great Inari? The Combination Varies
Toyokawa Inari is widely described as one of the Three Great Inari of Japan.
However, there is no single nationally agreed list. Several different shrines and temples officially describe themselves as one of the three, so the combination changes depending on the region and source.
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, the head shrine of Inari worship, appears in nearly every version. Other commonly mentioned candidates include:
- Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto: The head shrine of Inari worship, known worldwide for its long paths of vermilion torii gates.
- Toyokawa Inari, Aichi: A Soto Zen Buddhist temple with torii gates, fox statues, and a history connected to Toyokawa Dakini Shinten.
- Kasama Inari Shrine, Ibaraki: A major Inari shrine in eastern Japan, also officially introduced as one of Japan’s Three Great Inari.
- Yutoku Inari Shrine, Saga: Known for its brightly lacquered buildings rising along a hillside.
- Mogami Inari, Okayama: A Nichiren Buddhist temple that has a torii gate and retains a strong shinbutsu-shugo character.
- Takekoma Shrine, Miyagi: One of the best-known Inari shrines in the Tohoku region.
Rather than trying to identify one definitive trio, it may be more interesting to compare several Inari sites. Their buildings, fox statues, local customs, and religious backgrounds can differ considerably.
For travelers who have already visited Fushimi Inari Taisha, Toyokawa Inari offers a very different perspective on how Inari worship developed in Japan.
Main Highlights at Toyokawa Inari
The grounds contain far more than the Main Hall. Allow enough time to walk beyond the central approach and explore the quieter areas behind it.
Toyokawa Inari Main Hall
The large torii leads toward the Toyokawa Inari Main Hall, the center of worship for Toyokawa Dakini Shinten.
Completed in 1930, the wooden building stands approximately 30.6 meters high. Its layered roof and heavy timber structure look even more substantial when viewed from the stone approach directly in front of it.
The combination of a Buddhist temple hall, fox statues, and a torii gate makes this one of the clearest places to see Toyokawa Inari’s unusual religious character.
Reiko-zuka Fox Statue Hill
One of the temple’s most distinctive areas is Reiko-zuka, located deeper inside the grounds.
Around 1,000 fox statues of different sizes stand between rocks and trees. Many were donated by worshippers as an expression of gratitude after their prayers or wishes were fulfilled.
The dense group of stone foxes creates a very different scene from the open approach around the Main Hall. Visitors who only stop near the entrance will miss one of Toyokawa Inari’s most memorable sights.
Oku-no-in and the Sembon Nobori
On the way toward Reiko-zuka, visitors pass the Oku-no-in, or Inner Sanctuary, and paths lined with red devotional banners called Sembon Nobori.
Worshippers from across Japan donate the banners, which display names and prayers. Although they may remind visitors of the vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, these are fabric banners rather than torii.
Walking through this quieter part of the grounds gives visitors a better sense of the temple’s scale.
Yuki Nishimoto Museum and Fusuma Paintings
Near the entrance, the former temple treasure hall has been used for the Yuki Nishimoto Museum, featuring work by contemporary sumi-ink artist Yuki Nishimoto.
Special temple-hall viewing dates may also include his large fusuma paintings, titled Toyokawa Shin Choju Giga. A fusuma is a sliding panel used to divide rooms in traditional Japanese buildings, and artists have decorated them with paintings for centuries.
Opening dates, reception hours, and admission fees differ from ordinary temple access. Check the official schedule before planning your visit specifically around the museum or fusuma paintings.
A Special Opening in 2026 After 72 Years
In 2026, Toyokawa Inari will hold a major gokaicho, or special religious unveiling, for the first time in 72 years.
The public event period is scheduled from November 1 to November 23, 2026, with related internal opening rites listed for October 31. The program includes special worship opportunities, ceremonies, and access to selected temple halls and religious images that visitors cannot normally see.
Schedules, admission arrangements, and restrictions may vary by date. Travelers visiting during this period should check the latest information on the official website before arriving.
Enjoy Inari Sushi and Aichi Specialties in the Temple Town
The streets leading from JR Toyokawa Station and Meitetsu Toyokawa-inari Station to the temple contain restaurants, sweet shops, cafés, and souvenir stores. Eating or shopping in this monzenmachi, a town that developed around the entrance to a temple or shrine, is part of the Toyokawa Inari experience.
The best-known local food is Toyokawa inari sushi. This familiar Japanese dish consists of vinegared rice placed inside a pouch of sweet and savory fried tofu.
Shops around Toyokawa Inari sell the classic version as well as variations containing mixed rice, wasabi, miso katsu, or grilled eel. Toyokawa’s temple town is also traditionally associated with the early history of inari sushi.
The area offers more than inari sushi. According to the local map, visitors can also find restaurants serving unagi, flat kishimen noodles, and miso katsu, all foods closely associated with Aichi Prefecture. Cafés, Japanese sweets, crepes, and soft-serve ice cream provide several options for a break after visiting the temple.
When we visited, most of the shops had already closed. One shop directly opposite Toyokawa Inari was still open, so we bought a set containing three types of inari sushi:
- Classic inari sushi
- Gomoku inari with mixed ingredients
- Wasabi inari
All three were enjoyable, but the wasabi inari stood out. The sharpness of the wasabi balanced the sweetness of the fried tofu, creating a surprisingly good combination.
To enjoy both the temple and the food street, arrive between the morning and early afternoon. Individual shops have different closing days and hours, so check in advance when there is a particular restaurant you hope to visit.
How to Get to Toyokawa Inari
Toyokawa Inari is easy to reach on foot from two nearby stations. You do not need to take a local bus from either station.
- From Tokyo:
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Toyohashi Station. Change to the JR Iida Line and travel to Toyokawa Station. Toyokawa Inari is about a five-minute walk from the station. Allow approximately 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on the train and connection. - From Nagoya by JR line:
Travel from Nagoya Station to Toyohashi Station by the Tokaido Main Line or Tokaido Shinkansen. Change to the JR Iida Line for Toyokawa Station. The journey generally takes around 70 to 90 minutes, depending on the service. - From Nagoya by Meitetsu line:
Take a train from Meitetsu Nagoya Station toward Toyokawa-inari Station. Some services require a transfer at Ko Station to the Meitetsu Toyokawa Line. The trip usually takes around 70 to 90 minutes. Toyokawa Inari is about five minutes on foot from Toyokawa-inari Station. - By car:
Toyokawa Inari is approximately 10 minutes from the Toyokawa Interchange on the Tomei Expressway. The main temple parking lot costs ¥600 for a standard car.
Train schedules and connection times can change, so check a current route planner before traveling.
Visiting Hours and Suggested Time
The outer gate remains open longer than the temple halls and service counters. Arriving late may mean that you can enter the grounds but cannot visit the hall interiors or receive amulets.
- Main gate: 5:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Main Hall, Oku-no-in and Mando Hall: 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Amulets and religious items: 8:00 a.m.–3:50 p.m.
- Prayer reception: 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Main Hall and central grounds only: About 1 hour
- Main sights, Reiko-zuka and Oku-no-in: About 1.5 hours
- Temple grounds, special exhibitions and food street: About 2 hours
- Official site: https://www.toyokawainari.jp/
For a relaxed visit that includes the quieter inner grounds and lunch in the temple town, arriving in the morning is the safest option.
Special events, New Year visits, and the 2026 gokaicho may operate under different hours.
Travel Tip: Check the Names Before You Visit
Names such as Toyokawa Dakini Shinten and Reiko-zuka can be difficult to read or understand from Japanese signs alone.
Toyokawa Inari provides an official English guidebook. Reviewing the main names and locations beforehand will make it easier to match the English information with signs around the grounds.
Is Toyokawa Inari Worth Visiting?
Toyokawa Inari looks like a shrine in several ways, yet it is officially a Soto Zen Buddhist temple. Its torii gates, fox statues, temple halls, and protective deity show how Japanese religious traditions have not always fitted into simple categories.
The Main Hall is impressive on its own, but the temple becomes much more interesting when visitors continue toward the Sembon Nobori, Oku-no-in, and the roughly 1,000 fox statues at Reiko-zuka.
The nearby food street adds another reason to spend time here. Inari sushi, eel, kishimen, miso katsu, sweets, and cafés can turn a temple visit into a relaxed half-day stop.
Toyokawa Inari is especially suitable for repeat visitors who have already seen Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha, travelers staying in Nagoya or Toyohashi, and anyone curious about the complicated relationship between Buddhist temples and Shinto traditions in Japan.
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