While most shrines in Japan have guardian lions flanking the altar, shrines to Inari have foxes.
I was nearly locked in at this shrine, as I had entered through a side entrance while the priest was making his rounds locking the doors. I made my way through the shrine; taking the above photographs and found the front entrance where I had planned to exit locked. Wondering how I was going to get back to the streets I made my way back to where I had come in... Just in time to see the priest pocket the keys after bringing down a storefront type shutter/door and locking the attached pad lock. After a furious bout of kung-fu fighting*, he graciously opened the gate to allow me out.
*may or may not have actually happened
*may or may not have actually happened
