The Most Photographed Shrine in Japan – Fushimi Inari Taisha
First thing on day-2 in Japan, we took the train to the Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社). It is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan, sitting at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is 233 metres above sea level. We had a light breakfast at the foothill of the shrine before ventured up the mountain along the breathtaking Torii trails. A Torri is the common Japanese Gate found at the entrance or within a Shinto shrine.
The amazing Torii gates fill the trails all the way up to the mountain. These Torii are the traditional offering by the patron of business, and merchants and manufacturers who have traditionally worshipped Inari, the God of Rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. The Torii gates trail up the mountain to many smaller shrines which span 4 kilometres and takes approximately 2 hours to walk up. I made it all the way to top by sprinting up the last kilometre. However, there wasn’t much to see at the top of the mountain and I was a little disappointed. Nonetheless, the Torii gates are the most amazing sight of the shrine and a must-have picture of Japan~!
How to get there: Located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station, not served by rapid trains). The shrine can also be reached in a short walk from Fushimi Inari Station along the Keihan Main Line. We used our ICOCA card and boarded a train from Kyoto Station without any hassle.
The Giant Torii
Inari Udon
Inari Sushi
The sight of Kyoto city
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 612-0882, Japan
Phone: +81 75-641-7331
Check out my previous Japan Kansai Area Trip Itinerary (Kyoto & Osaka mainly) here and here.
Check out my tips to survive and navigate Japan (Kansai area in particular) here.
