Fushimi Inari Shrine

伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japanesekyoto japan japanese travel fushimi inari shrine temple orange tori gate fox photo shershegoes.com9伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japanesekyoto japan japanese travel fushimi inari shrine temple orange tori gate fox photo shershegoes.com10

kyoto japan japanese travel fushimi inari shrine temple orange tori gate fox photo shershegoes.com11kyoto japan japanese travel fushimi inari shrine temple orange tori gate fox photo shershegoes.com13
伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japanesekyoto japan japanese travel fushimi inari shrine temple orange tori gate fox photo shershegoes.com14伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japanese伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japanese伏見稲荷大社 sher she goes mountain trail fushimi inari temple shrine fox tori gates gate rice bunsha business worship kyoto travel japan japaneseThe vermilion tori tunnel gates of Fushimi Inari are one of the most frequently photographed sites of Kyoto and make for a hauntingly beautiful path of orange and black. Fushimi Inari shrine sits at the base of a mountain 223 meters above sea level, and the winding tori gates straddle a meandering upward path that takes approximately 2 to 3 hours by foot to hike.

I was looking forward to visiting this shrine ever since watching Memoirs of  a Geisha, where the film’s opening credit scene follows a laughing girl weaving in and out of the gates. Fushimi Inari is of significant cultural relevance to Kyoto and has ancient origins, predating the capital’s move in 794. This shrine is the head shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and the grounds are sprinkled with Fox statues among the gates. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, and they typically hold a symbolic key (to the rice granary) in their mouths.

You can hike upward as far as you wish up the mountain or turn back at any time. For a nice view overlooking Kyoto, walk about 30 to 45 minutes upward until reaching the Yotsutsuji intersection, about halfway up the mountain. From here, you can take a circular route to Mt. Inari’s summit, or head back down the hill to explore Kyoto’s other cultural relics.

Getting There

The shrine lies just outside the JR Nara Line Inari Station, about 5 minutes from Kyoto Station. Or, walk from the Keihan Electric Railway Main Line’s Fushimi Inari Station, as we did. (Admission: Free | Closed: Never)

Must TryOn your way to the base of the main tori gate, you’ll pass a number of sweets and souvenir shops. Stop at one to try the tsujiura senbei, a form of fortune cookie some say is the origin of today’s Chinese America fortune cookies

 

Read more: Travel to Japan

Want to know what else to do in Tokyo? Check out my full Japan series:

sher she goes soy sauce 'sushi dai'

Tokyo


That Time I Got Naked with Strangers… My Japanese Bathhouse Experience

Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 1 Is the Tuna Auction Worth Visiting?

Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 2 (You Woke Up Late) The Other Stalls

How to Travel Japan Shinkansen & the Japan Rail Pass

Tokyo’s Most Famous Temple: Asakusa and Senso-Ji

Hotel Review Mornings at the Park Hyatt Tokyo

Tokyo Sights: Visiting the Imperial East Gardens

Kyoto


More photos from Fushimi Inari Shrine (Memoirs of a Geisha!)

What Does It Mean to Donate a Torii Gate

Sanjusangendo Temple and the 1,000 Statues of Kannon

Japan Eats


Sushi for Breakfast, Really? Sushi Daiwa at Tsukiji

Delicious Bakery Treats Mont Thabor & The Park Hyatt

Is Japan Vegetarian Friendly? Here’s What You Can Expect & Eat More Greens

Dessert Among Diamonds Mikimoto Lounge

How Good is Japanese Tonkatsu

Share:

17 Comments

    • Sher
      Author
      June 3, 2014 / 4:28 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Floortje :)

  1. June 4, 2014 / 10:01 pm

    Great pics and tips! Are the fortune cookies better than the american chinese ones?? :)

    • Sher
      Author
      June 9, 2014 / 9:34 pm

      Ha not sure, I didn’t end up trying one!

  2. bar
    June 5, 2014 / 2:33 pm

    amazing!

    • Sher
      Author
      June 9, 2014 / 8:07 pm

      Thanks!

  3. June 8, 2014 / 6:36 pm

    Sher, this place looks magical! I love everything about it (and you’re making me want to pack my bags for Japan ASAP :)

    • Sher
      Author
      June 9, 2014 / 8:06 pm

      Thanks Amy! :) If you ever get the chance to go, you should! I had a great time in Kyoto

Leave a Reply

%d