Minoyama Daimyojin Shrine and Yashima Inari Shrine

At Yashimaji Temple, a tunnel of red torii gates leads to a small shrine flanked not by the usual fox statues but by two large tanuki figures. The shrine is dedicated to Minoyama Daimyojin, a shape-shifting tanuki spirit said to bring good fortune in family life and to the nighttime entertainment trade. Legend holds that the deity helped the priest Kukai find his way through the mist on Yashima by appearing as an old man and guiding him to the summit. Beyond this shrine, a separate tunnel of torii passes through a quiet bamboo grove to reach Yashima Inari Shrine, accessible only after walking past a collection of tanuki statues donated by previous visitors.