Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is one of the best places in Kyoto. It was quite shocking to see the Chidori Gate with my own eyes. For more pictures and information, check out my Fushimi Inari Shrine travel guide blog.
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is located in the south of Kyoto City and is one of the most important shrines in Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of torii gates, a collection of more than 32,000 small shrines arching over the sacred Mount Inari. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Kyoto and is known as one of the three major attractions in Kyoto along with Kiyomizu Temple and Kinkakuji Temple.
We visited Fushimi-Inari Taisha more than once during my previous visit to Kyoto. It was very impressive to see thousands of red-orange buildings built in one place over many years. The best thing is that visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine is completely free. Be aware that it can be quite crowded, but like other places in Kyoto. In this Fushimi-Inari Shrine travel guide blog, we will take you on a tour of this iconic Shinto shrine. We’ll show you the must-see places and share with you additional travel information and tips for planning your itinerary.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Sinto shrine in Kyoto. It is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice. Locals believed that praying at Fushimi Inari Taisha would bring good harvests and prosperity for business. Statues of Inari foxes (kitsune) are decorated everywhere as if they were messengers.
Most travelers visit Fushimi Inari Taisha to see the Senbon Torii, the thousands of torii gates. The gates lining the hill look like a wonderful and picturesque image of the sanctuary.
But did you know that doors are actually donated by wealthy families and business conglomerates as a sign of good luck and blessings? You will see the donor’s name and date of donation engraved on the back of each door.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is easily a half-day trip to any Kyoto itinerary. The shrine is not far from the city and is very easy to access when you are in Kyoto.
The entire visit can be done in less than an hour if you only think about taking a look at its thousand gates Towers. But there can be a lot of people on the first stretch of road. and we recommend going a little higher to avoid the crowds. So it’s best to dedicate 2 to 3 hours to the visit.
You can also hike the full loop route to reach the summit of Mount Inari at 233 meters (764 feet). The round trip hike can take approximately 3 hours depending on your speed.
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha
Once you enter, you’ll be greeted by a giant vermilion torii gate at the entrance. Beyond the gate is the main hall (honden) where visitors can pay homage to the resident deity by making a small offering here.
There are many fox statues, as locals believe that foxes are Inari’s messengers. There are four kinds of things that fox statues hold in their mouths: ears of rice, a scroll, a ball and a key, and each one has a different meaning!
In the same area as the temple there are smaller shrines where you can stop for a while to have a look. You can also make a wish on Ema (wooden plaque) by writing it on it and hanging it on the wall. There are also rows of colorful origami paper cranes strung and folded by locals. An ancient Japanese legend promises that the gods will grant a wish to anyone who can fold a thousand origami cranes.