JAPAN - KYOTO FUSHIMI INARI TEMPLE

Fushimi Inari, founded around 700, is the leading Inari Shinto shrine in Japan devoted to the worship of a good harvest and commercial success.  The foxes are divine messengers of the god Inari.  The shrine is best known for its 1000 Torii gates set in a row winding up hill to form the Senbon Torii tunnel-like avenue.  The shrine is spread over a 233m high hill which overlooks Kyoto.  The Torii are paid for by Japanese businesses and individuals seeking business success and they advertise their wares on their Torii in black Kanji characters.