Motomiyasai Festival

　The Motomiyasai Festival at Fushimi Inari takes place the day after tomorrow. This festival honours a branch spirit of Inari Okami—the deity of bountiful harvests and commercial prosperity—and attracts worshippers from the approximately 30,000 Inari shrines said to exist throughout Japan to pay their respects at Fushimi Inari, the head shrine.

　During the Yoimiya, which begins tomorrow at 6 pm, lanterns will be displayed throughout the shrine grounds, and nearly 400 illuminated lantern paintings will be lit, creating a magical atmosphere.

　Although Fushimi Inari attracts 10 million visitors annually, incidents caused by the rapidly increasing number of foreign tourists are becoming frequent. We must not forget that this is, first and foremost, a religious site, and we guides must strive to improve visitors’ etiquette.