A Walk around Tsukiji (Part 3) Namiyoke Inari Shrine / 築地の散歩 （パート３） 波除稲荷神社

Returning to my regular posts, I came upon this small shrine located right outside the Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market.  It is the Namiyoke Inari Shrine.  As to the history of the place, just check out the photo below.

築地の散歩のネタに戻りました。市場を堪能したあと、小さな神社を発見。波除稲荷神社でした。自分がこの神社に説明するより、下記の写真をご覧ください。

I hope you were able to read the signs.

サインが読めたかな？

This is interesting.  This is a shrine to Benzaiten (one of the Lucky Gods of Fortunes).  Why it houses a black toothed lion is a mystery (I'm sure there was an explanation written somewhere but I must not have bothered to read it).  I checked their website to do a bit of research but all the explanations are in Japanese with some difficult kanji for me to read.

これは面白い。 上記にあるのは弁財天社。その中にお歯黒獅子があるのは何故？ ネットで波除稲荷神社のサイトを見ましたが、全部日本語で、自分が読めない感じが多すぎた。

Directly across from the black toothed lion is this one called the Shishi Dono and is used for yaku yoke (a prayer to ward off evil).

向かいにあるのは厄除けで使われてる獅子殿です。


As this is the unofficial guardian shrine for the fish market and the people who work there, you will find some other unusual monuments that pays respect to sushi, tempura, and even eggs!

お歯黒獅子や獅子殿以外にまた面白いものもある。いろんな塚ですよ。すし塚、海老塚、玉子塚など。変わった稲荷神社だなと思いました。

On the left is the monument to honor eggs (as you can see).  To the right is a smaller shrine that houses four different gods.

見て目ですぐ分かると思いますが、左にあるのは玉子塚。右にあるのは末社。



A closer look at the monument (for lack of a better word) to the egg.

玉子塚です。

Monument to sushi on the left and shrimp on the right.

すし塚と海老塚。 真ん中にあるのは海老の大丸。

Sake anyone?

酒飲むか？


As this is an Inari shrine, you will also find small statues of kitsune (foxes).  According to wikipedia: [Inari Okami is the Japanese god of rice, agriculture, fertility, industry, and worldly success.  The foxes are his messengers.  They are also often adorned with a red yodarekake (votive bibs) by worshippers out of respect.]

稲荷神社なので、必ず狐の像もある。一般的には本堂の前にあると思いますが、ここの稲荷神社ｈちょっと違う。

If the foxes are Inari's messengers, what is this tiger doing here?

稲荷神社と言えば狐。では、何故ここに虎が居るの？

Love the water spouting dragons / 水を吐き出す龍ってカッコイイね

Namiyoke Inari Shrine / 波除稲荷神社
 
 
I also noticed that there were these little stone pillars featuring all twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
 
もう一つ面白いと思ったのは、ここの神社に全種類の干支を発見！
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope you enjoyed the tour of this small little shrine.
 
波除稲荷神社楽しめましたか？