Fushimi Inari Shrine

Overview

Fushimi Inari Shrine is Kyoto's most important Shinto shrine and one of Japan's most unforgettable sights. Dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, prosperity, and business, it is famous for its mesmerizing path of more than 10,000 vermillion torii gates that wind up the slopes of Mount Inari. The oldest parts of the shrine date back to 711, and it has served as the headquarters of the national Inari cult for over a thousand years.

Unlike most of Kyoto's temples, this is a place you explore rather than admire from a distance. The torii tunnels (senbon torii, literally "thousands of torii gates") are donated by businesses and individuals — each gate is inscribed with the donor's name and the year of donation. The higher you climb, the quieter and more atmospheric the trail becomes, until the crowds thin out and the forest takes over completely.

Practical Info

Hours: The shrine grounds are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Entry fee: Free.

Access: Take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station and get off at Inari Station — just 2 minutes and one stop away. The shrine entrance is directly across from the station. Alternatively, the Keihan Main Line stops at Fushimi-Inari Station, about a 10-minute walk away.

Location

The Hike

The full trail to the summit of Mount Inari (233 meters) and back takes about 2–3 hours at a comfortable pace. Follow the dense tunnels of gates through the forest, stopping at the many small shrines, tea houses, and lookout points along the way.

The halfway point is the Yotsutsuji intersection, roughly 30–40 minutes from the base. Here the trail opens onto a panoramic overlook of Kyoto city — on clear days you can see downtown Kyoto and the mountains beyond. Most visitors turn around at Yotsutsuji, but continuing to the summit rewards you with quieter trails, smaller shrines, and the sacred stone where Inari is said to have first descended.

Tips

• Go at sunrise — the gates are dramatically lit and you will often have the tunnels almost to yourself. The shrine is at its most photogenic before 8:00 AM.
• Bring a flashlight if you are hiking early in the morning or in the evening; parts of the upper trail are shaded and surprisingly dark.
• Buy fox crackers (osuzumari) from a stall near the entrance and offer them to the many fox statues — foxes (kitsune) are Inari's messengers.
• Wear comfortable shoes: the trail includes thousands of stone steps.
• Finish the climb with breakfast at the base — the area is famous for its kitsune udon.

Further Reading

To beat the crowds and see the gates in the best light, read our early morning guide to Fushimi Inari. And when planning your visit, our 3-day Kyoto itinerary shows how to combine the shrine with the rest of the city.