Seeing an actual tanuki at a temple

You often see tanuki statues at temples and at entrances to shops in Japan. That is because in Japanese folklore they are considered generous tricksters who bring good fortune, through humor, abundance and friendliness. Placing a tanuki statue on the grounds of a temple or at the entrance to a shop sets a welcoming tone.

So when I saw an actual, real life tanuki on the grounds of the temple earlier in the week, pictured, I considered myself very lucky. Isn't it adorable? At first, I thought it was a dog! And as I got closer, I thought it was a cat. But it was only when I got even closer that I realized it was a tanuki and I was delighted. 

We stood looking at each other for a while, so I decided to take my camera out. It didn't run away when I was rummaging through my bag for my phone or when I held it up to take a photo of him/her. But when I got complacent and took a few steps too close to it, it ran away! But I still felt very honored to see a real life, actual tanuki at a temple.