Japan: Saga: Yutoku Inari Shrine

Yutoku Inari Shrine (祐徳稲荷神社)
849-1321 Saga-ken, Kashima-shi, Furueda, 1855
https://www.yutokusan.jp/about/access/

A shrine located in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture.

Dedicated to Inari, the wild fox kami, it is the third largest of its kind in Japan. It was constructed in 1688 as the family shrine of the Nabeshima clan who ruled what would become the Saga area (called Hizen at that time) during the Edo period. [Reference]

Getting there :

• From Hakata Station, go to JR Hizen-Kashima Station (肥前鹿島駅 Hizenkashima-eki).  This station has very nice restroom area as well.  
• Exit and cross the road for the Kashima Bus Center, (don’t worry, there are signs upon exit). 
• You'll be welcomed by an old man trying to give you RT tickets for 320 jpy each, take this as IC cards are not accepted by this bus line.  There is also Information Center, if you have doubts.

• Go to Platform 3 and it takes about 15-20 minutes bus ride until the Yutoku Inari-jinja Shrine stop. 

Yutoku Bus Timetable

• Take the main road continue walking to left direction, it will take around 5-10 minutes,  passing by quiet street market, crossing a mini bridge, until you reach the destination.

I was about to skip this place since I have already visited Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto back in Nov 2012.  And so it was when I saw the latest movie which was shot in Saga that made me visit this place. 

Looking back at my Japan travel, this is another long walking journey for me.  From bus to the shrine grounds, going to the main shrine, passing more tori gates until halfway to Myobu Okami.  Sorry to tell, I did not push through the top, I was frightened to see some snakes or real fox guarding the mountains.

I must say, this is a good stop for me, to smell the forest, think and just simply stop to look around.  

Date Visited: May 17, 2016

Summary of 4 days itinerary in 2016 Spring Fukuoka Trip:

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Where to Sleep
Day 1	Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory Mina Mall Tenjin Undergroud Shopping Fukuoka Tower	Ippudo TAO – Tenjin [Tenjin] Underground Restaurant	Hotel Ascent Fukuoka
Day 2	Yutoku Inari Shrine, Saga Huis Ten Bosch, Nagasaki	Huis Ten Bosch Hakata Underground Curry House Coco Ichibanya	Hotel Ascent Fukuoka
Day 3	Nanzo-in Temple Uminonakamichi Seaside Park Kawabata Shotengai Canal ACROS vertical garden	Matsuya Hakata Ekimae	Hotel Ascent Fukuoka
Day 4	Kyushu National Museum Dazaifu Tenmagu Shrine	Sasaguri Henro 88 Restaurant in Dazaifu Tenmagu	Hotel Ascent Fukuoka