Guide

Small things in Kyoto, explained. We write only what we have seen or checked, and date it.

• Ema: The Wooden Wish Plaques at Japanese ShrinesAn ema is a wooden plaque you receive at a Japanese shrine, write a wish on, and hang up. What to write, what to skip, and Fushimi Inari's fox-face ema.
• Fox Statues at Japanese Shrines: The Inari Kitsune ExplainedFox statues at Japanese shrines are the messengers of Inari, not the deity. What the foxes hold in their mouths and why they wear red bibs, at Fushimi Inari.
• Fushimi Inari Taisha: A Guide From People Who Live in KyotoA guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha from people in Kyoto: the layout from the gate to the summit, how long the walk takes, the crowds, and a quieter station.