According to Shinto tradition,
kitsune (fox in Japanese) is a magical being, a messenger to Inari, the Shinto
kami of rice and agriculture. The shrines dedicated to Inari are always guarded by at least a pair of statues representing
kitsune, and sometimes they are also decorated with many other
kitsune statues, which are believed to ward off evil spirits.
Some shrines have their own particular representation, some of them strongly stylized, such as the ones in today's photo, from the Hikan Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo, which are manually painted for greater individuality.
Hikan Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo EXIF info:
Nikon Df
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8G
Focal Length: 24mm
Aperture: F/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/60s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 3200