Fushimi Inari Taisha, All The Red Things

fushimi-01

“That place with all the red things,” is how I would describe to people what I want to see in Kyoto. Its name is actually Fushimi Inari Taisha.

I first took notice of it back in 2014 when Fab showed me her photos from her latest trip to Japan. The red things, as they turn out to be, are called torii gates.

Thanks to Fab for introducing me to it, and Brad for giving me pointers.

fushimi-02
Located right outside Inari train station, you can’t miss the giant red torii gate nor the tourists.
fushimi-03
Here the wooden plaques, where visitors write their wishes, are fox-shaped. This is because the fox is the messenger to the Inari god of rice1.

If you hike the trail, the crowd disappears quickly and you are able to get a clean shot with no tourists. I start somewhat early (9:45am) to avoid the heat, but the mosquitoes, unfortunately, are unavoidable.

fushimi-04
Actually, it is not very hot under the shade.
fushimi-05
Each torii gate is donated by a company or individual, and their names are written on them.
fushimi-06
There are many little shrines where people can make their prayers.
fushimi-07
Or donate to have their messages written on small torii gates.

fushimi-08

It takes me about 1.5 hours to complete the hike. It is very nice and well-maintained, with many vending machines along the way (a bit pricier than normal as you go up, of course). At the top, you can also sit down and have tea, a boiled egg, and other snacks.

A pleasant hike it is – Fushimi Inari Taisha, 伏見稲荷大社.

This week I’m going to go turbo speed on Kyoto, ie. 5 posts straight of Kyoto. Enjoy!

 


1Fushimi Inari Shrine – Japan Guide

2 thoughts on “Fushimi Inari Taisha, All The Red Things”

  1. To you, it may be “that place with all the red things”; to me, it’s “that place with all the orange things”. #colorblind

  2. That is hilarious!! But you’re right. It is kind of orange, but in the eyes of a Chinese, I think that is closer to red? Like those Fai chun (Chinese greetings) that they have during New Year. I guess because this is an Asian country I think more like a Chinese.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Need tips and advice for travelling?

Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter and get travel hacks and tips for your next destination.

Don't miss out. Subscribe to get my best travel tips for free.

* required fields

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission when you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting me :)

Scroll to Top