Pictures and guide of Fushimi Inari-Taisha famous for Senbon-Torii in Kyoto

I went to kyoto the other day and I was guided to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha by my friend. It’s one of the most popular tourist spot in Japan for foreign travelers. In some sites and guidebooks, Fushimi Inari-Taisha have been No.1 many times in Japanese spots.

Senbon Torii(it means thousands of Toriis) is very impressive for its red Toriis standing in a row at tens of centimeters.

Kyoto has a lot of famous sightseeing spots like Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Nijo-jo castle and so on and Fushimi Inari-Taisha is also a place you should visit.

Red Toriis and Foxes welcoming at Fushimi Inari-Taisha

The nearest station to Fushimi Inari-Taisha is JR Inari station or Keihan Railway Fushimi Inari station. It takes 8min by train to JR Inari staion from Kyoto station.

I started at Keihan Fushimi Inari station. It’s good atmosphere by vivid red pillars and white foxes. The Fox have been believed as a messenger of God since long ago.

This is the road to Fushimi Inari. A bridge is also vivid red.

Good looking old Japanese-style houses stands in a row along a street.

This big Torii is a landmark of entrance of Fushimi Inari-Taisha.

A stern faced fox posing dynamically holds something gold in its mouth. Is it deep-fried tofu?
(The deep-fried tofu called “Abura-age” have been considered as favorite of fox in Old Japan. To tell the truth a fox is a carnivorous animal, though…)

I finished a worship and went to Senbon-Torii.

Women weared Japanese Kimono is also good for this location.

This is a guide map of precincts of the temple. There is Senbon-Torii halfway up the mountain from here main shrine.

Some souvenirs are here and many of them are related to the Torii.

You can see many Toriis standing in a row at narrow spaces but don’t be surprised such a scenery. It’s only the beginning.

Let’s go to the Senbon-Torii pass under Toriis.
It’s interesting that some Toriis are vivid red and others are faded because of their age.

In Senbon-Torii, thousands of red Toriis fill your sight

I finally arrived at a junction. Here is the Senbon-Torii. Many many many Toriis, it’s brilliant…

Thousands of red Toriis filled almost all of my sight. It’s amazing and mysterious feeling.

They stands at intervals of 10-20 centimeters. Here is surrounded by trees so their green color is good contrast.

I feeled like being sucked somewhere.

When I looked back I could see many adresses and company or individual names who dedicated Torii to the shrine.

It’s an exit!

Here is Okusha shrine where go out from an exit.
There were many High-school girls on a school excursion because Kyoto and Fushimi Inari is famous sightseeng place.

This is “Omo-karu Stone”. It is said that if this stone’s weight is lighter than you expected then you get your wish and the reverse is true. I recommend you should guess it’s very heavy.

There are variety of fox faces. You can buy and write it.(at ¥500)

Since I was already here, I went ahead little more.

From here stairs are getting more steep.

There are many Toriis and Hokoras(small shrine). They look their own directions so I have no idea about their regularity.

This is a price list of dedicationg Toriis. It’s expensive, isnt it?

I proceeded on my way taking a side glance at emotional Japanese tea shop.

I moved up quite a ways.

I think here is a top of this mountain, isn’t it?

But it’s not. Here is a middle point of all the way. It’s longer than I think. I decided to retrace my course.

Japanese calico cat sent me off on the way back.
(It depends on her mood)

Instead I sent her off.

After all, thousands of Red Torii rows are magnifisent. It is worth watching.

Postscript

I recommend here if you have a chance to come to Kyoto, Japan.
It’s better to bring light equipment because you need to walk some distance.