Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) is often nicknamed the Red Shrine or the Fox Shrine, and is a Shinto shrine. It is easily one of Kyoto's most popular shrines — you'll see it featured in almost every tourism poster. It is an important landmark in Kyoto, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates lined up behind the main shrine, forming pathways all across Mount Inari, which is believed to be a sacred mountain. Inari is the god of abundance, rice harvests, and agriculture, and foxes are said to be his messengers, which explains why so many fox statues can be found throughout the shrine grounds.

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The shrine is extremely old — it was founded even before the city of Kyoto itself. It is thought to date back to around 711 AD — more than a thousand years ago. Besides the famous red torii gates, the shrine buildings themselves are just as interesting, including the Romon Gate at the front and the main hall known as the Honden, along with several other notable structures scattered around the grounds. Behind the main shrine, a path leads up the mountain, lined with torii gates the entire way. These red torii gates are all donations from individuals and organizations, as you can see from the names inscribed on the back of each pillar. Prices range from a few hundred thousand yen for a small gate to over a million yen for a large one.

Beyond the main highlights, you'll also pass many small shrines along the way, as well as tiny red torii gates donated by ordinary visitors. If you get tired, there are local restaurants and snack stalls serving set meals, many with a playful fox theme, such as fox sushi or fox udon. Most visitors only walk as far as a viewpoint known as the Yotsutsuji Intersection, where you can enjoy lovely views over Kyoto and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Walking the entire mountain can take around two to three hours.