Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024

Gunma’s Koizumi Inari Shrine

Backyard Tourism Vol. 10

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

Dear reader…

Are you the type of person who will do just about anything for the Gram? Do you regularly make insane journeys to picturesque locations simply to snap the perfect selfie? If so, I have the superb spot in mind for you. Known as Koizumi Inari Shrine, this hidden gem can be found smack dab in the middle of nowhere in Gunma Prefecture. Despite its extreme remoteness though, you’ll often see Koizumi Inari Shrine pop up on Instagram. Why would anyone in their right mind venture to this god forsaken scene? Well, put succinctly, this off of the beaten path shrine may very well be one of the most Instaworthy spots in the Greater Tokyo Region!

Anyone keeping tabs on our gang of Japan content creators likely knows, there are endless locales in this country that are as stunning to behold as they are hard to reach. Here, I am talking about spots like Saga Prefecture’s seaside trio of torii gates at Ouo Shrine. Situated along the coast of the Ariake Sea, the trip here is about as logistically complicated as they come. Thanks to the presence of platforms like Instagram though, Ouo Shrine and many other sites across the Japanese countryside are now seeing droves of visitors who would have otherwise never considered such an adventure.