There is no other places quite like Fushimi Inari Taisha where you will find thousands of bright orange torii gates densely erected next to each other, forming a seemingly never-ending trail leading up to a mountain. If you have watched “Memoirs of a Geisha”, you would recognize it as one of the sites where the movie was filmed.
Getting there:
JR Inari Station is the nearest station to the shrine, which is just two station away from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line. If you’re departing from Gion area, it is more convenient to take the Keihan Main Line to Fushimi Inari Station, which is five station away from Gion-shijo station.
Limited edition Coke.
Rows of souvenir shops lining the streets.
Passed by some shops selling souvenirs like fox masks.
There are many food stalls lining the side of the walkway to the shrine. But we did not stop as we wanted to get to the shrine as soon as possible.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be messengers of Inari. Therefore, you will see lots of fox statues across the shrine grounds.
Romon Gate is said to have been built by the regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1589.
The key in the fox is a key to granaries.
The highlight of the shrine is the rows of torii gates, known as Senbon torii. At the very back of the shrine's main grounds is the entrance to the torii gate-covered hiking trail.
Haiden.
A red torii gate.
There are visitors everywhere on the walking path leading up to the tunnel of torii gates.
The trail starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates. Visitors are advised to follow the row of gates on the right to hike up to the mountain. From here, your decision of following the right or left path will decide how soon you get to take Instagram-worthy photos with virtually no one in the background (hint, hint, I won’t say more).
The hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 2-3 hours, however, visitors are free to walk just as far as they wish before turning back.
You will find the donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each torii gate.
My sister and I took tonnes of photographs here in the tunnel of torii gates. It was a right choice to come here dressing in kimono. All the photographs turned out great.
Another group of girls dressing in kimono in the background.
We took turn to take photographs of each other, we even managed to get a few photographs together by asking passerby to help take photographs of us.
We left feeling happy and satisfied to have accomplished what we came for.
Passing by the various food stalls again. The food sold like grilled seafood and etc all looked really delicious. However, we did not sample any for fear of ruining our rented kimono.
For your information, do try the locally themed dishes such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon if you have the chance, both featuring fried tofu which is said to be a favorite food of foxes.
Love this photo of my sister with a fox mask in front of a kimono rental shop.
No trip to Kyoto will be complete without a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha. You have no excuse not to visit it as the shrine is open all year round, 24/7. The approach to the shrine and the main hall will be illuminated all night. There is also no admission fee.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Open all year round
No admission fee.
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