Near Nagoya! Toyokawa Inari Shrine: Summer Festival With 1,000 Foxes

Toyokawa Inari Shrine is one of Japan's three major Inari shrines and is located in Toyokawa City, just about one hour away from Nagoya by train.

The Toyokawa Inari YORU MO-DE is a special summer event held until August 30, 2023. This year's edition marks Tokokawa City’s 80th anniversary as a recognized municipality in Aichi!

Full of bustling attractions, the city turns into one huge party at night, merging together festivities, tradition, and culture with state-of-the-art technology, it is truly a sight to see.

Read on to learn more about this year's event. Do visit Toyokawa Inari Shrine if you're in Nagoya!

Toyokawa Inari Shrine YORU MO-DE 2023 Highlights

1. Okunoin Temple Light-up "Fox Light"
2. Reikozuka Light-up "Fox's Banquet"
3. Mesmerizing Digital Art by Artory Co., Ltd.
4. Traditional Dance and Music Festival

1. Okunoin Temple Light-up "Fox Light"

Yoru Mo-de will be hosted on the vast grounds of Toyokawa Inari Shrine, the symbol of Toyokawa City.

Known as one of Japan's top three fox shrines alongside Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari Taisha and Saga’s Yutoku Inari Shrine, Toyokawa Inari Shrine is home to hundreds of fox statues!

2. Reikozuka Light-up "Fox's Banquet"

Reiko-zuka, also known as the Hill of Foxes, will be lit up with beautiful colors. Appearing alongside the path and in between trees are around one thousand foxes statues adorning the woodland of Toyokawa Inari Shrine.

The mystical banquet of foxes casts shadows, creating a hauntingly beautiful gathering.

3. Mesmerizing Digital Art by Artory

Stunning illuminations created by ARTORY light up Toyokawa Inari Shrine's brilliant treasure hall!

Illustrations will be projected across the grounds of the shrine until the end of August. A fox-themed adventure awaits you with stunning artwork inspired by Chojugiga, a famous series of art scrolls that depict frolicking animals such as frogs and rabbits.

Along the sides of the building, a digitized ukiyo-e print of Bon Odori dances drawn by Hiroshige Utagawa will dance across the walls, spreading magnificent colors. The artwork invites guests to participate in Yoru Mo-de's special dance festival: ODORI MO-DE.

Illustrated projections of foxes created by ARTORY will dance across the walls of the shrine looking as if they are paying a visit. Known as mystical creatures in Japanese mythology, white Inari foxes are said to be messengers of the gods.

Serving as the guardians of the shrine, they can be found standing at torii gates, the doors to the spiritual world.

4. Traditional Dance and Music Festival

Odori Mode is an interactive music and dance festival hosted by DJ KOO. The festival's name is a play on words from the Japanese festival known as Bon-Odori, a type of traditional summer dance that anyone is welcome to join.

On the final day of the event, around 200 magical LED floating lanterns will be released into the sky!

Toyokawa Inari Shrine has a limited edition goshuin (shrine stamp) during the summer festival period.

If you're in central Japan this summer, why not join Toyokawa Inari Shrine's festival and interact with creations from popular artists?

Toyokawa Inari Shrine YORU MO-DE 2023

Location: Aichi, Toyokawa City, Toyokawacho, Toyokawa Inari Shrine
Period of time: August 18 - 30, 2023
Tickets:
Adults: Weekdays - same-day tickets 1,500 yen, advance tickets 1,100 yen; Weekends - same-day tickets 1,900 yen, advance tickets 1,500 yen
Children: 300 yen (elementary school students); free for preschoolers

Tickets can be purchased on the YORU MO-DE website

Shrine Official Website: http://inari-toyokawa.com/

YORU MO-DE Official Website: https://artory.co.jp/topics/143

Information and photo source: PR Times