Lake Inari Lake Inari Lake Inari (, , , , , ) is the largest lake in Sápmi and the third-largest lake in Finland. It is located in the northern part of Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle. The lake is above sea level and it is regulated at the Kaitakoski power plant in Russia. The freezing period normally extends from November to early June. The best-known islands of the lake are Hautuumaasaari ("Graveyard Island"), which served as a cemetery for ancient Sami people and Ukonkivi ("Ukko's Stone"), a historical sacrifice place of the ancient inhabitants of the area. There are over
Inari Ōkami Buddhism may have begun in the 8th century, when Shingon Buddhist monk and founder, Kūkai, took over administration of the temple of Tōji, and chose Inari as a protector of the temple. Thus, Inari is still closely associated with Shingon Buddhism to this day. Inari is often venerated as a collective of three deities ("Inari sanza"); since the Kamakura period, this number has sometimes increased to five "kami" ("Inari goza"). However, the identification of these "kami" has varied over time. According to records of Fushimi Inari, the oldest and perhaps most prominent Inari shrine, these "kami" have included Izanagi, Izanami,