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Hike Ten Thousand Gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine
Published by Camilla Cheung, Writer
Country: Japan 
The Experience
The vision of thousands of crimson torii gates stretching up the mountainside is one of the most iconic images of Kyoto, and of Japan. The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is one of the most famous shrines in the city, and one of the oldest Inari shrines in Japan, founded in 711.
Popularized throughout the world in the film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha, walking through the tunnel of red lacquered torii (a distinctive shape for Shinto gates) is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in Kyoto.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine stands out among the temples of Kyoto as a unique and whimsical tribute to the Shinto god of rice and industry, Inari, whose representatives are fox spirits (“kitsune”). When first arriving at the main shrine, at the bottom of Inari Mountain in Kyoto, visitors pause to rinse their hands and mouth with water from a fountain at the entrance to the Shrine. Here, you can buy prayer tablets, incense and miniature torii gates to place on the kitsune shrines for luck. Look around at the tiny stone fox statues dotted among the main sanctuary. Each one is an individual in its own charming way, with a red cape tied around its shoulders.
After getting your fill at the main shrine of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, head behind to where the lines of torii stretch out in their thousands up the hillside. Hiking through the forest feels both mystical and peaceful with lacquered red gates standing in vivid contrast to the stands of giant bamboo and the green woods. As a tribute to the god of industry, thousands of Japanese businesses have donated these crimson gates in hopes of wealth and prosperity, making the Fushimi Inari Shrine one of the premier destinations in Japan. You will quickly lose count of the torii, as well as of the countless fox statues that you encounter on your way.
At various points in the two-hour hike, you can stop and rest at small snack bars and other smaller shrines dedicated to Inari. Pause and cool yourself at the shrine fountain and nibble on some Inari sushi, vinegar-rice wrapped in fried tofu, which is said to be the fox spirit's favorite food. Alternatively, slurp down a bowl of kitsune udon: fox noodles topped with fried tofu. The path continues on a loop around the mountain, with views over the city of Kyoto at the top. The journey, however, is more interesting than the destination, and walking through the scores of red gates makes you feel like you've travelled a thousand years into the past.
Popularized throughout the world in the film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha, walking through the tunnel of red lacquered torii (a distinctive shape for Shinto gates) is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in Kyoto.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine stands out among the temples of Kyoto as a unique and whimsical tribute to the Shinto god of rice and industry, Inari, whose representatives are fox spirits (“kitsune”). When first arriving at the main shrine, at the bottom of Inari Mountain in Kyoto, visitors pause to rinse their hands and mouth with water from a fountain at the entrance to the Shrine. Here, you can buy prayer tablets, incense and miniature torii gates to place on the kitsune shrines for luck. Look around at the tiny stone fox statues dotted among the main sanctuary. Each one is an individual in its own charming way, with a red cape tied around its shoulders.
After getting your fill at the main shrine of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, head behind to where the lines of torii stretch out in their thousands up the hillside. Hiking through the forest feels both mystical and peaceful with lacquered red gates standing in vivid contrast to the stands of giant bamboo and the green woods. As a tribute to the god of industry, thousands of Japanese businesses have donated these crimson gates in hopes of wealth and prosperity, making the Fushimi Inari Shrine one of the premier destinations in Japan. You will quickly lose count of the torii, as well as of the countless fox statues that you encounter on your way.
At various points in the two-hour hike, you can stop and rest at small snack bars and other smaller shrines dedicated to Inari. Pause and cool yourself at the shrine fountain and nibble on some Inari sushi, vinegar-rice wrapped in fried tofu, which is said to be the fox spirit's favorite food. Alternatively, slurp down a bowl of kitsune udon: fox noodles topped with fried tofu. The path continues on a loop around the mountain, with views over the city of Kyoto at the top. The journey, however, is more interesting than the destination, and walking through the scores of red gates makes you feel like you've travelled a thousand years into the past.
When to Go to Fushimi Inari Shrine
You can get to the Fushimi Inari Shrine by way of the JR Inari Station in Kyoto. It can also be accessed via Fushimi Inari Station on the Keihan Line. A good map will help you navigate the short walk to the Shrine.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine can be visited in all seasons, but if you want the full effect of the living forest in conjunction with the red torii, you'll want to visit during spring, summer, or fall. Winter is also a popular time to visit for the Japanese, and on the first day of the New Year, millions of Japanese people come to visit the Shrine. The glittering white snow provides a beautiful colour contrast with the vermilion gates.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine can be visited in all seasons, but if you want the full effect of the living forest in conjunction with the red torii, you'll want to visit during spring, summer, or fall. Winter is also a popular time to visit for the Japanese, and on the first day of the New Year, millions of Japanese people come to visit the Shrine. The glittering white snow provides a beautiful colour contrast with the vermilion gates.
Odds n' Ends
If you're visiting in the summer, bring lots of drinking water as Kyoto gets sweltering in the warmer months. Mosquito repellent would be advisable too as you will be hiking into the forest of the mountainside. You'll want a good camera that can take decent pictures in low-light conditions. The hike takes two hours, more if you get lost, which can be both a pleasant and mysterious experience. Although the trail is nicely paved, the hundreds of stairs can be tiring if you aren't in the best shape, especially when combined with heat and humidity.
Water is difficult to come by in the upper reaches of the trail, so be sparing with your use of water at the Shine, saving it for travellers coming after you. It can be tempting to splash yourself all over with the water, especially in hot weather, but try to refrain. It is meant for ritual cleansing, not bathing.
Water is difficult to come by in the upper reaches of the trail, so be sparing with your use of water at the Shine, saving it for travellers coming after you. It can be tempting to splash yourself all over with the water, especially in hot weather, but try to refrain. It is meant for ritual cleansing, not bathing.
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