Chiyobo Inari Shrine In Gifu - Offer Fried Tofu For Good Luck

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The Chiyobo Inari shrine, also known as ”Ochobosan” by the locals, is a shrine known to have fried tofu available as offerings. Today let's take a look at this interesting shrine and what other things can be found in the area.

Latest update : 2017.03.12

To get a full experience of Japanese tradition, a great place to visit is a shrine or temple. Going to famous locations such as Fushimi Inari shrine, Ise Jingu shrine, or Izumo Taisha can be great, but there are plenty of regional shrines all over Japan.

This time, we would like to introduce the Chiyobo Inari shrine located in Kaizu city in Gifu prefecture. What makes this shrine different from other shrines? Let's find out!

Offer Fried Tofu? Loved by Locals, the Chiyobo Inari Shrine

Chiyobo Inari Shrine in webpu - Offer Fried Tofu for Good Luck

Loved by the locals, Chiyobo Inari shrine is frequently referred to as Ochobo-san. The guardian deity of agriculture, the Inari Okami, is worshiped at this shrine and many people used to come to this shrine wishing for a good harvest. Lately, many people come to wish for prosperity in business instead.

In front of the shrine, you will find several shops selling candles and abura-age (fried tofu) for 50 yen a set. The fried tofu is an offering for the fox servant of the Inari Okami God.

In Japan, it is believed that foxes like fried tofu. Therefore, there is a special place in the shrine to give fried tofu as an offering.

After lighting a candle and setting it on the candle stand, you can give money and fried tofu as your offering. Like at other shrines, you can follow the ritual of two bows, two claps, prayer, and one bow to finish. For more information about manners at shrines, please read How To Visit A Japanese Shrine.

Visit Tamaya Kushikatsu After Your Shrine Visit

After giving your prayers at Chiyobo Inari shrine, extend your journey out to the shopping streets. One of the most famous stores here is the kushikatsu shop called Tamaya. Kushikatsu is a Japanese dish where breaded pork cutlet is skewered and then deep fried. Aside from the famed kushikatsu, dote-meshi is also popular, so it is worth a try! Dote is made of pork offal cooked in miso and is a local specialty of Gifu; dote-meshi is the famed dote placed on top of a bowl of hot rice.

Aside from the delicious meals, the design of the store is amazing as well. The shop owner was a lover of gold and you will find the store covered in gold - including the bathroom floor and toilet seat. You may be blown away from all the shimmering gold when even using the restroom!

You may eat while standing at this restaurant and you will spot many customers enjoying some kushikatsu along with a glass of beer.

Another delicious and popular treat is a small fish called moroko. It is sold as a tsukudani (*1) and tastes a little salty and sweet at the same time. You can enjoy this delicacy with some rice.

*1 tsukudani: Small fish, vegetables, and shellfish cooked in soy sauce.

In Conclusion

The day we visited, the writer drove to the shrine and parked in a nearby parking lot. This was an unmanned parking lot and you can pay by putting money inside the management room on your own. The parking fee was 300 yen flat and it is your responsibility to pay on your own. It is a nice feeling to know the locals trust you and your accountability here.