Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari was one of my absolute favorite spots during my trip to Japan. The thousand red-​orange torii gates are beautiful. And the higher you climb — the further away you get from all the tourists. We climbed up pretty high in order to get away from the noise and selfie stickers and it was really nice. It was very peaceful and quite in the higher areas and we really got to get a feel for the place.
There are a bunch of tinier shrines along the way to the top and along the way back down as well. I really liked all the intricate detail that was put into all the smaller shrines — each one was different.
There is a lot to do in the shrine area — offerings to be made, wish placards to be written, and stamps to be stamped. Along the way to the shrine are a bunch of souvenir stores as well as food stands. I had the best taiyaki from this cranky old man who didn’t allow pictures. If you spot him, be sure to get a taiyaki from him!

This is my favorite spot in all of Kyoto to visit! The torii gates are bright and beautiful! Wonderful photo ops, especially if you go super early before everyone wakes up so there are no people in your photos! Free admission!

C’est trop beau.
La gare JR éponyme l’annonce d’entrée: ce sera orange.
Et effectivement, ici, les arches des temples sont oranges, les temples sont oranges, les toris sont oranges. Ces toris justement, parlons-​en. Tous ses toris si rapprochés les uns des autres qu’ils en forment un espèce de sas de balade en pleine nature. C’est vraiment joli.
Bön, c’est blindé de monde le matin et en début d’aprem, mais si vous vous éloignez un peu et que vous partez faire la petite rando en hauteur (compter 1h/​1h30), vous serez seuls au monde (enfin avec les moustiques, protégez-​vous!). Quand on a eu fini notre petit tour en redescendant vers 16h15/​30, il n’y avait plus personne :).
En repartant du site, vous retrouverez toute une rue commerçante avec des stands de nourriture, des boutiques de souvenirs (je vous mets au défi de pas craquer pour le renard en peluche *_​*), des glaciers, …
C’est impératif de passer par Inari en venant à Kyoto. Oui, tous mes potes foulant la terre du soleil levant y étaient allés avant moi, et j’avais presque l’impression d’être déjà venue, mais franchement, ça n’enlève rien à la magie de l’endroit.

This is the most popular/​best tourist attraction according to Trip Advisor and I can definitely see why!
1. Admission is free
2. Great photo ops
3. Right by the train station (JR Inari Station)
4. Incredible view (especially if you make it all the way to the top)
5. Street food stands
The hike to the top is roughly about 2 hours but the hike isn’t so rigorous. Once you get to the top, you can see all of Kyoto and it is so beautiful! They also have a food stand, where you can enjoy an ice cold beer :) The attraction is beautiful with 10,000 bright orange torii gates. You must go here if you are ever in Kyoto!

When you think of Kyoto, you might think of the more famous temples and shrines, but Fushimi Inari isn’t necessarily the one that comes to the top of the list of places to see. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one.
This shrine is host to over 1.3 million tori gates. The 10 km of trails that wind up the hill through the forest and it is spectacular !
If you don’t manage to walk the entire 10 km route, do yourself a favor and at least go past the first couple of stops. After that the number of people start to dwindle and you are left with nothing but great photo opps at every turn. There is hardly a bad place to take a photo here. The route does go up the hill, so there are some areas that are a bit steep, so walking can be a bit tiring. However there are plenty of places to pull over and rest and marvel at the serenity.
The area is very well maintained and there are a number of paths off the main route that lead to some interesting shrines and places to pray.
The area is just 2 stops away from the Kyoto Train Station on the Nara line. Super easy to get to, and just outside the station the park starts almost immediately as you cross the street (so it isn’t a long walk in to find the park).
It’s worth the stop even if you only have an hour or two.

I am currently planning another Japan trip for the end of this year, and I want to re-​visit Fushimi Inari Shrine. My fiancé and I didn’t get a chance to finish the entire 2 hours trek the last time around (2013) cause I got hungry half way.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is a free attraction, and located right outside the JR Inari Station. The attraction itself is beautiful, and lined with 10,000 Torii gates. Don’t forget to wear your most comfortable shoes, cause the hike through the trails take about 2 hours.

Basically from osaka you can get the bullet train to kyoto. From Kyoto you would need to get another JR Line to nara and get off at fushimi-​inari you can use the same ticket again without paying until you get to your desination, where you will need to enter the ticket into a machine called a fare adjustment to pay the additional fare before exiting the station.
This is a beautiful place and you can spent hours there to feed the mosquitos. I really prefer coming down the shrine as I used the right path as you come down the hill as it leads to back alley and you end up the residential area when you reached the bottom.

You can’t come to Kyoto and not visit this shrine. It’s probably okay to skip the entire 2-​hour uphill hike, but walking through all those strategically-​spaced orange gates is like ascending into another world. Despite the throngs of tourists from everyone country, there remains a peaceful air, and not to worry, there are plenty of vending machines so you can stay hydrated for the entire hike up!

Impressionnant et magnifique, des centaines de toris plus ou moins collés les uns aux autres.
C’est blindé de monde mais au bout d’une dizaine de minute de montée c’est beaucoup plus calme.
On a mis une bonne heure pour aller jusqu’en haut et redescendre. Un bon entrainement pour les urban trail car beaucoup d’escaliers.
A noter plus on monte plus le prix des boissons augmente.
En plus c’est gratuit et c’est accessible en Jr et métro.
La visite incontournable à Kyoto!

This place was really great. Especially since we actually had a decent amount of time to look around. I highly recommend having at least half of a day to explore this place. The trail to the top is 2 – 3 hours one way if I remember correctly. Would have loved to go to the top if we had time. It’s simply amazing the construction that went into this place. Still not sure about the orange on all the gates, and what it’s supposed to signify.
This is a place that is well worth the time to seek out and expend walking the grounds.

FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE
First shrine we visited in Kyoto. From the Kyoto station, you need to take another train here. I believe they run about every 20+ minutes. Since we had a schedule to adhere to, we actually took a cab here instead. We had just missed the train and would have had to wait another 20 mins or so. (My understanding is all the temples close at 5pm, so we were trying to get a bunch done before then.)
We got to the Fushimi Inari Shrine on Tuesday, April 12^th around 9:45am. This shrine is beautiful! And free! I believe it’s known for its paths lined with torii, which is a Japanese gate, so make sure to walk through its torii paths. It can get a little crowded with people stopping to take pictures, but be patient and just maneuver around them.
Make sure to wear walking shoes if you’re visiting a bunch of temples as you’ll be walking. A LOT. This shrine is mostly uphill, so you’re feet will be fine for the first couple of stops. But they will be on fire if you do not wear real sneakers you can actually run in. Trust and learn from my mistake. I wore converse and was dying before we even got on the train home.
Wonderful first stop for our day of sightseeing.

Beautiful shrine that is a must visit when heading to Japan. People may remember this place from «memoirs of a geisha» back in the day. The shrine itself is gorgeous, well maintained and admission is free. Honestly, it’s actually quite the hike to go from the beginning to the end, roughly 2 hours or so but it is absolutely worth it. Overall, if traveling brings you to Kyoto, make this part of your plans.

Absolutely stunning and breathtaking place! Truly a unique place! A MUST-​SEE when you’re in Kyoto!
Context: Here on vaca with my parents, looking for the famous infinity orange shrine!
Details: Basically hundreds and thousands of poles lined next up to each other looping around towards the mountain, can take you a couple of hours to go around. I’m not sure the full length but it’s a good walk and a great experience filled with unique culture and history. Absolutely loved the origami paper cranes.
Environment: Very busy, but that’s expected at Japan. If you’re trying to do a photo shoot, expect someone to always be in your shot haha.
Very well kept and clean! Food vendors from what I recall.
Overall: Highly recommend when you’re in Kyoto!

Loved this hike/​temple! So, I actually came here because it was one of the few temples that was open past 4 – 5 pm. I thought it would be interesting to do this hike at night, and I’m really glad I did. Fushimi Inari is very pretty at dusk, and making the hike as it gets dark was fun. The crowds were also remarkably thinned out, and I was glad of that because I had previously heard about the mobs of people that enjoy this hike.
It takes approximately an hour to hike up to the top, and I definitely recommend that you do so. There are many, many stairs though, so just a warning! You do get a very nice view of Kyoto about halfway though! I thought it was a little confusing on which path to go – I ended up taking the «wrong» path (just a side path, it’s otherwise a big loop, so there’s no right/​wrong path, but I eventually merged onto the main path), and it was a little creepy without anyone else on it (and it being dark outside), but otherwise this hike was awesome. I was amazed the whole time at the bamboo columns that practically create a cover for you the whole time you are hiking. At the top (and at several points along the way), there are little shrines/​areas where people have made their blessings with smaller bamboo shrines. I think that during the daytime, there are people selling water/​snacks along the hike, although there were none at night.
Overall, I highly recommend this hike — and it’s free! Love it.

Séjourner à Kyōto sans faire une visite au sanctuaire shintô Inari-​taisha serait un sacrilège.
Ce lieu est incontestablement l’une des plus belles merveilles de la ville.
Fondé au 8ème siècle, il est entièrement dédié au kami (divinité) Inari. Symbolisé sous forme d’un renard, il est à l’origine la divinité des céréales et notamment du riz. Pour ce qui concerne ce sanctuaire de Fushimi, il est surtout la divinité de la colline sur laquelle le sanctuaire est bâti.
Passé le superbe torii et les principaux bâtiments du complexe en contrebas de la colline, les plus courageux des visiteurs se lancent à la conquête du sommet à travers des chemins balisés par des milliers torii. Ces derniers sont en fait des dons faits à Inari.
Il faut savoir que ce kami est à la fois le protecteur des maisons, mais également une divinité crainte par des humains. Quand en plus on sait qu’en ce lieu précisemment Inari est également le protecteur des prostitués et pompiers, vous imaginez un peu le mélange des genres.
Sur le chemin, tout ce folklore locale est brassé, parfois dans un bazar indescriptible de torii, de statuettes et autres voeux. En certains endroits, l’ambiance y est étrange, mystérieuse et mystique.
Arrivé au sommet, c’est l’impression du devoir accompli qui nous gagne. On peut ainsi profiter du panorama sur la ville. On se doit surtout de redescendre avant le couché du soleil, car malheur à ceux qui resteront là une fois la nuit tombée.

Simply a must see in Kyoto, Japan and most visited place in Kyoto.
Very unique look that is created from bamboo wood. Each of those columns were donated by the very rich families in Japan ranging from 100K to 4 million per one square of the orange bamboo columns.
This was breathing taking and gorgeous pictures outcome.
One tip go early morning to beat the crowd if you are like me and you don’t want strangers in your pictures but also there would be space for you to walk under the columns heading up to the semi shrine location. I was told it’s about 2 hr hike to go see the real shrine.
Getting to Fushimi was fun it was a small area of an uphill filled from both sides food, dried fruits and rice cakes. Tons of samples to be given out by the vendors so try some then buy. Japanese people don’t bargain often however expect it to be on the pricey side as this is a very heavy touristic area.
Highly recommended!

One of my favorite shrine in Kyoto.
It’s free and it’s very interesting. Walking all the way to the top in the evening is fun and will give you a great view of Kyoto City.
Even though I’ve visited this Shrine several times, seeing the gates always amazes me.
It’s definitely a great place to show your friends around.

1.2…3… 10,000! 10,000 bright orange torii gates AND you’re on a mountain! It’s an impressive sight to take in. They have shrines and gardens scattered throughout the grounds to peruse and complete your experience. Look out for the fox statues. They are messengers of the Inari god and hold keys in their mouths to open rice granaries since Inari is the Shinto god of rice.
Since we were only in Kyoto for 2 days, we didn’t have time to make our way to the top (~2 hours with the selfie-​loving crowds) so I cannot comment on the hike or the view. It bothers me that I could not finish a path that I had started so I made sure to stop by most of the individual food stalls lining the road from the Shrine to the JR train station: D
I think this is where I tried the vanilla and green tea tofu ice cream! Smooth, creamy, and elastic — you can flip the ice cream cone upside down and the whole treat stays intact! One of my favorite desserts in Kyoto!

Unlike others, I have never seen Memoirs of a Geisha, but I’m an otaku and seeing Fushimi Inari has been on my list for quite some time so while I was in Kyoto, I made it top of my to do list! The shrine is really easy to access. Just hop on the JR Nara Line towards Nara and get off at Inari Station. As soon as you’re out, you’ll see the shrine. It’s right outside!
I came here at 7AM on a Saturday morning hoping to beat the weekend crowd. It was fairly empty, but there were still some tourists around. It was a great time to take pictures of the shrine and selfies! I won’t get into the history behind Fushimi Inari, but I have to say, as you walk through the tori, you can feel the centuries of history behind each tori. It is truly amazing. If you hadn’t planned on visiting Fushimi Inari during your stay, you’re crazy! You want culture? History? Find it here!
There are even street stalls and restaurants near the base and some restaurants along the hiking trail. I didn’t get to dine at any of them since I got there so early, but I would have if I could have! I did buy inarizushi at the grocery market to make up for it though: P
Since most people only go half way up the shrine, and I had an empty schedule, I decided to make time to hike up the entire mountain. You don’t just start a hike and go back halfway through! With nothing being open, I managed to get to the top in less than 40 minutes, and that includes stopping to take selfies, letting others take pictures, and trying to coax a cat into letting me pet him. Yeah, it’s not that bad a hike so I don’t know why people tell you it’ll take 4 hours. When I reached the top, I was dumbfounded by how lackluster it felt. You don’t get an amazing view of the city (you get that halfway to the top), the shrine at the bottom is more impressive than the shrine at the very top, and all that you see that indicates that you reached your destination are signs that say «Top of Mountain» 233m” or something like that. I was dumbfounded that I had reached the top!
The trek down took me around 40 minutes as well but that includes the time where I went back and forth wondering if I really made it to the top and checked out the zodiac shrine. It’s a really easy hike and won’t take much of your time, but I don’t think it’s entirely worth it. Unless you did it for the exercise like me! Or prayer. That’s important too.
Anyway, I think the shrine is fantastic and the tori are worthwhile. The hike may or may not be worth the trouble, but that’s your call. I don’t recommend the hike, but definitely see the shrine while you’re in Kyoto!

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is famous for its thousands of torii gates — thousands and thousands of bright orange structures, which line the mountain trails.
It’s very impressive, and it has a great atmosphere — unsurprisingly, it’s a lot nicer the further up you go, as the other tourists drop off earlier once they’ve taken their selfies.
There are also some great street food vendors just outside, too — I recommend the chicken skewers and the fish-​shaped cakes with custard cream filling in particular. Absolutely delicious!

I spent a night at the Ryokan, had traditional Japanese breakfast and headed to the Inari Shrine.
It is very spectacular place that has endless gates. Lots of steps, lots of gates over and over. When you reach an opening, there might be a pond or serene lookout. Wonderful experience and if you are going here, make sure you plan at least 3 – 4 hours. Even if you think you walk fast, there are a lot of people who don’t and sometimes it gets hard to pass by slow walkers.
The street that leads from the train station to the shrine is full of street food vendors and little shops. I bought chopsticks here and had them engraved (you can ask for English or Japanese letters).

To really see the area, which is actually quite large, you need a whole day and legs that work. That being said, even if you don’t have the time or have mobility issues, you can still enjoy at least some of the shrine. Note: If you arrive on a bus tour, you will need to walk about 5 blocks, most of it a gentle uphill, to get to the shrine. There are three train stations nearby, the Inari Station for Japan Rail, and the Fukakusa or Fushimi-​Inari Station for Keihan Line trains. You’re still going to have a few uphill blocks of walking to get to the shrine from any of these stations, although they are closer than bus parking. If you have trouble walking, taking a taxi would get you the closest to the shrine.
The streets and pathways as you walk up from bus parking or train stations are lined with shops and stands (the latter mostly selling food). The vendors are not aggressive and it is a pleasant walk. Once at the shrine, there are stairs with railings but there is a ramp near some of the shops that are actually on the property (as opposed to lining the pathways along the way). So even someone who uses a wheelchair or scooter could at least see some of the main parts of the shrine, including an area to the side where all the paper cranes are hanging.
There is one accessible bathroom with a Western-​style toilet at the shrine for use by women or men. All the facilities in the women’s room were squat toilets, and I’m guessing it was the same in the men’s room. I suggest looking online before you leave for instructions on how to use a squat toilet. Ladies, you might also consider getting a device that allows you to urinate standing up, and practice at home before going on your trip.
I went on a Monday during an off-​season, and there were still plenty of people, although nothing like what it must be during high season.

When I returned to Kyoto a few weeks ago, there was one sight I wanted to see that I had never seen before, the thousands of brightly colored torii that are lined up at the base of Inari mountain. Like lots of ignorant Westerners, I must have seen them ten years ago in Rob Marshall’s version of «Memoirs of a Geisha» where young Chiyo runs through them probably looking for Ken Watanabe. Who wouldn’t? But I honestly don’t remember the scene or most of the movie for that matter. Regardless, according to our guide Hiro, that’s when this shrine became a popular tourist attraction. I just knew it’s a unique photo opp and well worth the time to peruse.
Like Kiyomizu-​dera, the shrine itself has been around since the eighth century, this one dedicated to the almighty god of rice. At the back of the shrine is the entrance to a mountain trail which begins with two parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii, which translates into «thousands of torii gates». Flanked by stone-​sculpted foxes, it’s a striking sight as Marshall obviously saw through the camera lens, and as the shrine is focused on the benefits of commerce, the gates reflect donations from various local companies with their names inscribed on the back of each gate (photo:
). If you do the full circuit, it takes at least a couple of hours, but you can take in the essence of it in a half-​hour flat.

We got here at dusk and I was kicking myself because we can’t hike up or take good pictures. Most of the tourists/​visitors were already leaving so it wasn’t crowded at all. The next time we visit Kyoto, this will be on our list again and definitely go early so we can all the way to the top.

This area is really an entire mountain whereby the walking paths are completely covered with 10,000 bright orange gates or torii. Walking the entire loop trail up the mountain and back is at least 2 hours.
At the base of the mountain when the gates begin, it is extremely crowded and gets overwhelming. However, most people go up the trail a tiny bit and then turn around. If you do the full 2 hour trail, you will have little patches all to yourselves. The climb is very easy. To put it into perspective, I saw a French woman in her 60’s walk the complete path in her high heels.

I don’t need to add pictures because there’s already enough pictures of it.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING. SEEING PICTURES AND EXPERIENCING IT is TWO TOTALLY SEPARATE EXPERIENCES!!!
Was the caps necessary? YES!
The amount of art and detail that went into this place is absolutely amazing. You can go the main route where all the tourist are, it will be impossible to get a selfie with the 10,000 poles.
YES 10,000 poles that this shrine has.
It goes by an honor system in the non crowded area.
You can either 1. Pay a shrine to get your fortune, or just steal one. I paid 100 yen (80 cents in USD) to get my fortune.
I also met a wood cutter on one of the random paths you can take up to the top. (A more difficult hike) but it was worth it.
It took me 2 hours to get to the top (stops and conversations with locals) but it should take around 40 minutes of you just head straight to the top on a main route.
THIS PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL with random areas to shower! YES SHOWER in a middle of a woody place. (You have to take off shoes and water comes from the mountain and it is cold)
Free beautiful hike. no complaints.

I knew instantly I wanted to come here after listing must places visits from Trip Advisor. My gf and I took the cab here, on they way up was a huge but narrow alley full of people and street food. I advise you walk up since cab can get pricey and lots of food to try as well as things to look at and buy for souvenirs.
As you walk in the front their are different paths that lead to the main columns but you will surely see it as it’s orange and hard to miss haha. It was so pretty, and although their are many tall orange columns as you look up, and walk by, they really are something to look at and take lots of pictures. I’m not sure what the history is behind them or the writings that are engraved on each column, but I would get it’s names of people or family that bought a column to donate to the shrine. I’m sure you can learn it from looking it up or if you came with a tour guide.
As you walk higher the air is so crisp and fresh. Their are hikeing trails, but we did not see much since we were not prepared for that. However you just keep walking higher and higher, just follow the orange columns, though I’m not sure how far down it ends. It can get a bit boring or same since as you walk you just see the same thing, but the view is amazing and an escape from reality. I would avoid the weekends as it can get real packed, and more likely harder to take pictures.
I would come here again and if you are in Kyoto I recommend to look up if they do have actual long hiking trails. It would be well worth it and if not just enjoy the view, air and of course the obvious grand orange columns.

This is such a fascinating place and so very Kyoto-​esque. There’s a particular station that is literally right in front of Fushimi Inari Taisha, I forgot the name though lol, but it’s very very easy to get here.
I already had a very eventful day prior to coming here, hung out in the Arashiyama area, so I had no energy to walk through alllllll the tunnels… though I hear it can be really nice when you reach the end. We didn’t make it lol, but for lack of energy not lack of interest. But it has a very interesting history (I suggest reading a little about why these red gate looking things exist).
The place is pretty touristy, but it’s all good. It’s one of those places you should come and see for yourself.

The pictures are in just about every travel book of Japan that you can buy, it is for most tourists a must see when in Kyoto. The tunnel of orange arches is not something to miss.
Easy enough to get to, you just jump on a bus at the main Kyoto station. It takes about 20 mins to get there and you get dropped right outside. That is when the walking commences.
The arches are a good 20 mins walk to get to, but it’s worth the journey. There is something memorising about the long tunnel of orange that has been about for so many years. The crowds are massive but if you hover about you can grab a second where you get a chance to take that ultimate snap where the arches look mysterious and a little bit lonely.
Definitely one to go to, to say you have been. I was unable to do the full hike to the top of the mountain, but I loved the part I did do.

Touristy, but absolutely stunning. This is the most memorable landmark and spot for sightseeing during my visit to Japan. The seemingly never-​ending bright and vivid gates are marvelous, and something about this enchanting place just takes my breath away. I’m not one to re-​visit an attraction, but I would gladly make an exception and return to Fushimi Inari Shrine if I’m ever in Kyoto again because it’s that brilliant and I can’t imagine getting tired of this place.
SQUATTER TOILETS ONLY!

A mysterious and fascinating place. Be aware it is very long and you have to hike up a mountain. Don’t wear heels and expect it to get cold up at the top in other seasons than summer.
Foreigners like to take pictures of the tori gates with the kanji characters on the beams (from the opposite side or the way up). Japanese prefer to take pictures without the characters (on the way back). Most foreigners do not know that the characters mean which company donated money and when and how much did they donate.

It’s impossible to talk about Kyoto without mentioning Fushimi Inari. This is the world sea of tori gates, seen everywhere from Instagram to the National Geographic magazine. The tori’s are incredible to look at and to admire the amount of effort put to have it laced around the entire hiking trail to the top of the mountain.
For myself, the biggest goal for me was to take photos at Fushimi Inari without the crowds of people. Yes, we could go early in the morning or later in the evening, but the biggest problem was the lighting, especially with most of the tori gates already deep in the forest, thus covered by shadows. But with a bit of luck and good timing, it is possible. We ended up arriving around 10am and already, the area was pretty congested with tourists.
Once you exit from the main train station for Fushimi Inari, follow the crowds of people to the main shrine area. You’ll head up a couple flights of stairs to the main walkway, where it will actually divert into two paths (one going up, one going down) the small hill. The first empty photo opportunity is to actually go up the left path, opposite of the direction, and realize that not a lot of tourists are heading down the hill at 10am. I snapped a couple of great photos at this vantage point before a couple of people started appearing in the corner.
We decided that hey, since we’re already here, we might as well climb up the rest of the mountain. This was a pretty big mistake and we ended up wasting a lot of time at Fushimi Inari. Yes, there is a hike to the top and there’s a handful of opportunities to actually see the city skyline, but most of the hike is within the toris, covered by the forest, so there’s the obvious absence of sunlight. When you get to the top, you’ll realize that there are so many trees surrounding a simple shrine. Not very interesting at all.
After heading down the mountain, we encountered the two path tori area again. This time, we decided to actually camp out at one of the corners and wait until the next group of people disappeared around the corner. This worked really well for us and if you’re even more creative, hire some friends to block off traffic (or walk behind you really slowly). The place where the toris divert into two paths is the only place where the tori gates are placed in extremely close proximity to each other. Every other place is more spread out.
Don’t miss Fushimi Inari. But don’t climb to the top of the mountain. Be patient, and with some luck, you’ll be able to snap the best photos you possible can.

Fushimi Inari Taisha (FIT) is probably the most famous torii in the world. It was another must stop for my Kyoto trip and it seems like it was everyone else’s must stop. There’s a subway line right across from it. It’s synonymous with the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. To be honest, torii’s are all over Japan but this happens to be the most famous ones.
There’s a huge two to three storied Torii once you enter the FIT grounds. It’s massive. There’s fountains where you could cleanse yourself and make a wish. In addition, there’s a main hall on the right as you walk up the steps. Once you walk up the steps, it’s rows and rows of torii up to the shrine. The path going up is packed with people so I decided to take the path going down to make my trek up. It was a lot less congested and you’re able to take better shots of the torii.
It’s about 10,000 torii and each one has the names of the donor behind it. If you miss your shot, there’s 9,999 other ones. They come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a pretty amazing scene when you’re walking up them then walking down the shrine seeing all the Japanese characters on the torii. It’s quite the sight like walking into a room with unlimited Japanese Kobe beef.
There are a bunch of school kids practicing their English so don’t be surprised if one of them sparks a conversation with you. I was teaching one of them English cuss words. In addition, the toilets aren’t the western type so expect to pop a squat and hope it doesn’t get everywhere. You don’t want to be known as «mud butt» in Japan.
Lastly, FIT is one of the most well preserved shrines and temples I’ve seen. It’s something you have to really set eyes on to appreciate and it doesn’t matter what your religion, creed and political background. It was one of the most memorable landmarks I’ve visited to date. Easily.
I don’t know how this is less than 5 stars. You seriously have to be a complete idiot to rate this lower than 5 stars. That’s like going to Antarctica and wondering why there’s so much ice.

I did it!
I went visit-​, Fushimi-​inari.
Even if I say so, I walk from Toba-​kaido to Jujo in the morning, 、、.
Today, after5 and Fushimi-​inari.
Fushimi-​inari should have been heard first.
There is distance fairly to the mountain top.
When it’s climbed slightly wearily, moreover it’s an idea.
I’ll go and worship at Fushimi-​inari and eat Chinese noodles.
If so thinks, 、、.
That’s a mistake. The distance which is good if a map is seen.
This is at night. There is no resistance in the evening, but.
climbed alone reticently. Whether this is a mountain top.
It’s easy to waver in the evening, but please find me a mark of a flag on the map.
Please go.
I think I return on the way, but if I return, it’s wasteful.
I think so and climb. Like me, a lady, unexpectedly, going alone.
I was here. About 3 of buttons was undone.
The night view is beautiful. And surprisingly, a mountain top is carried, the connection
They aren’t precocious. Holy feeling does the way in the torii.
But if I return and return from the way besides the torii, it’s the effect.
I didn’t have that, so please be careful.
To return from the way where I have come and the other side, formal, and others, I’m here and do, but, 、、.
I have gone back the way where I have come.
Whether this is a mountain top-​, the moment, time, there is a 、、 night fairly.
Please be careful in NO.
Indeed a mountain top was holy territory.
It’s a mountain, so there is a mosquito, so please be careful.
Please be careful about a mosquito.
Tomorrow will be which will ask a person in Kyoto.
行ってきたよ～伏見稲荷。
と言っても、朝は、鳥羽街道から十条まで歩き、、
今日は、after５、伏見稲荷。
伏見稲荷、先に聞いておけばよかった。。
山頂まで結構距離ある。。
若干疲労で登ると、しかも思いつきで、
伏見稲荷に参拝してラーメンでも食べよう
など思ったら、、
それが間違い。地図見たら、結構な距離。
これ夜に。でも夜って抵抗ないけど、
寡黙に独り登るです。。ここが山頂かと
夜は迷いやすいけど、旗のマークを地図で見つけて
行ってください。
途中で帰ろうかと思うけど、帰ったら勿体無い
と思い、登る。私みたいに女性ぶらり一人歩きも
いました。ボタン３つくらい外しました。
夜景が綺麗。そして、山頂は、なんと携帯つながり
ません。鳥居の中の道は神聖な感じがします。
でも帰り、鳥居以外の道から帰ったら、効力が
なかったので気を付けてください。
来た道と反対側から帰るのが正式らいしですが、、
私は、来た道を戻りました。
ここが山頂か～と思うところが、、夜は結構ある
ので注意してください。
山頂は、まさに神聖な領域でした。
山なので蚊がいるので注意してください。
明日は京都の人に聞いてみようっと。＾＾

Though a little bit out of the way, Fushimi Inari Shrine is a must-​go sightseeing destination that cannot be missed! The shrine ground is one of the most beautiful and well-​preserved I have seen, but what’s even more impressive is the thousand torii gates that line on the ascending path to the mountain top!
The shrine is dedicated to the Shinto agricultural god, Inari. The temple tradition is installing a large or a small torii gate on the mountain path that is donated by the faithful who wished to pay gratitude for Inari’s blessing. The result is a beautiful and unique scenery of a red pathway that is unbelievably photogenic! This beauty is no secret to anyone, so go at early morning if you want your own photoshoot in the midst of thousand torii gates.
No Kyoto city bus or subway directly links to the Inari Shrine, but you can easily access there quickly via the local JR Nara Line train in two stops for only 140 yen one-​way so you don’t have to work hard to witness this torii gate marvel!

My favourite attraction in Kyoto, those bright orange gates look amazing especially when you’re walking along with the sunlight cutting through the gates.
Yes it is popular and there are masses of tour groups down at the entrance and shrine. Do what I did and run for the hills and you’ll lose the tourists real quick. The path gets emptier and quieter the further you go up the mountain. It isn’t the easiest hike up but there’s plenty of areas to stop and admire a shrine or a view as you make your way up.
The alternative path down is not very interesting and I think you should go back down the same way you came up.

I see lots and LOTS of Orangeee! Famous place that everybody goes to when they visit Kyoto. The shrine is very beautiful and well kept. It’s very tiring trying to get to the top. I suggest you bring insect repellent if you intend to go to the very top of the shrine. There are a lot of mosquitoes lurking around trying to get a bite. My bf was bitten several times on his leg.
Bring water and some food so you can enjoy and relax. There is a restaurant along the top if you want to get some snacks or grab a bite. Plenty of areas to pay your respects and get souvenirs.

Muchas veces había querido visitar este santuario dedicado a Inari, el dios sintoísta del arroz y por fin lo conseguí.
A pesar del encanto de los pequeños puestos a la entrada del templo, las linternas y los diversos edificios destinados a la adoración, lo que realmente llama la atención de este recinto sagrado son los miles de torii que distintas compañías han comprado para contar con la bendición de los dioses. Así, se sube al monte también sagrado por un túnel rojo que se diversifica en dos caminos hasta llegar a la cumbre, con buenas vistas hacia la antigua capital.
La ascensión puede durar unas dos horas, pero yo me di la vuelta mucho antes debido a que las condiciones climáticas del día no acompañaban. Este lugar es muy frecuentado por turistas y locales debido a su originalidad estética y a su cercanía a la estación (literalmente un semáforo), con lo que la codiciada foto de los torii sin nadie es difícil de conseguir, pero no es algo imposible.
A la vuelta compramos unas galletas japonesas (sembei) en una tienda especializada. Es un tentempié que me gusta muchísimo y los de este puesto me parecieron buenísimos.

En route to Osaka and Kobe we had a visit to the famous Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine dedicated to the god of rice, sake, and prosperity. Fushimi Inari is noted for its remarkable sight of some 10,000 small torii (shrine gates) that arch over a long path up the hill behind the shrine.
Also, Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed here.

I will admit that when I visited this shrine, I was one of those ignorant tourists who didn’t do any research on what everything meant and was strictly there for photo taking and sight seeing. I still enjoyed the experience, though!
It’s very easy to get here. As we stayed near Kyoto Station, we hopped on the JR Nara line and after a few stops we were already at Inari station. The shrine is literally right outside so you can’t miss it.
As they open early (7 AM is early for me!) we made this the first stop of the day. At 8 AM there were a decent amount of folks, but I didn’t feel like there were hoards of tourists. Not sure if this is because we went there on 30 December, which is right before the New Year holiday and people might’ve been traveling, or simply the time of day. With a little patience and luck, I was able to get some great shots of the bright orange gates without any people in them!
You have the option to hike to the top of the mountain, but Miguel and I felt that our leisurely walk halfway up was good enough. It was also a beautiful and crisp morning, and the serenity of the shrine made me feel at peace with the world.
Great place to go for prayer, peace, and to clear the mind. A beautiful, well-​maintained shrine worth visiting on your wonderful holiday in Kyoto! :)

Probably my favorite site to visit in Kyoto and perhaps Japan. The orange gates lead you up the mountain where you can explore the views and enjoy nature.
It’s very easy to get to from the FushimiInari or Inari station. Less than a 5 minute walk. Don’t worry about getting lost… just follow all the tourists.
Once you get to the main gate, you’ll see lots of maps with the routes up and down the mountain. You have the option to walk through all of the gates or take a shortcut.
Good luck trying to get a nice photo of you and just the gates. We came on a random Thursday morning and there were already swarms of tourists by 9:30am.