Fushimi Inari Shrine

One of the most recognizable stops on our guided Kyoto tour was the Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) in southern Kyoto.

The Shinto shrine is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Shinto is a traditional religion of Japan that incorporates the worshiping of ancestors and nature spirits and a belief in sacred power in both animate and inanimate things.

There are fox statues throughout the grounds which are thought to be Inari’s messengers.

Yoshiro demonstrated how to purify yourself at the purification fountain.

He also showed us how to make a wish at a few different areas, whether it was ringing a bell or picking up a rock.

The most famous sight at Fushimi Inari are the orange torii gates that line several trails behind the main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. There are over 10,000 torii gates. Amazing!

If you decide to do the full hike through the gates and up the hill and back down, it takes 3-4 hours. There are some souvenir shops and restaurants along the way.

What’s unique about these particular torii gates is that each one has been donated by a company or organization to give thanks for their prosperity and in hope of good fortune in the future.

Fushimi Inari Taisha  is a must-see while you’re in Kyoto. It’s just another reason to love beautiful Japan!

After a long day of walking all over Kyoto, I was ready for dinner. I ended up going to Restaurant Star for a hearty and comforting meal of omurice with chicken karaage and fries. Omurice is a fried rice omelette topped with ketchup. It’s a total comfort dish and very popular with the young crowd.

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Fushimi Inari Taisha
68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho
Fushimi-ku, 612-0882, Kyoto Prefecture
+81 75-641-7331
Website