Tanuki Shrine, Kyoto

Tanuki Shrine is a shrine on Pontocho Alley in Kyoto, Japan. It is dedicated to the lowly tanuki, or Japanese raccoon.

Little, adorable figurines of the tanuki are a common feature at the entrance of many eateries and temples in Japan. These figures often wear a big conical hat and carry a bottle of sake.

In 1978, a fire broke out at the Pontocho Alley claiming the life of a geisha. Where the fire stopped, a ceramic tanuki was found, shattered by the heat. The locals believed that the little creature had sacrificed himself on their behalf. In gratitude, they erected the Tanuki Shrine to house his remains.

Visitors to the shrine throw coins into it, and a recorded message utter warnings a response, to beware of fire.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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