Fushimi Inari: the mountain of torii

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

1. 01

   1

   Romon gate and the main shrine

   Out of Inari station and the great vermilion *Romon* gate is right there, donated by the warlord Hideyoshi in 1589. Pay your respects at the main *taisha* (grand shrine) hall behind it, then look for the fox statues — the *kitsune* are Inari's messengers, a key in the mouth for the rice granary.

   01

   Romon gate and the main shrine

   Out of Inari station and the great vermilion *Romon* gate is right there, donated by the warlord Hideyoshi in 1589. Pay your respects at the main *taisha* (grand shrine) hall behind it, then look for the fox statues — the *kitsune* are Inari's messengers, a key in the mouth for the rice granary.

   ◉Street View
2. 02

   2

   The Senbon Torii

   Behind the shrine the path splits into two parallel tunnels of close-packed gates — the *Senbon Torii*, the thousand *torii* (shrine gates). Take the right-hand tunnel up. Each gate is paid for by a business; read the black characters on the back as you climb.

   02

   The Senbon Torii

   Behind the shrine the path splits into two parallel tunnels of close-packed gates — the *Senbon Torii*, the thousand *torii* (shrine gates). Take the right-hand tunnel up. Each gate is paid for by a business; read the black characters on the back as you climb.

   ◉Street View
3. 03

   3

   Okusha Hohaisho and the lifting stones

   Where the two tunnels rejoin, the inner shrine hangs with hundreds of miniature *torii* and fox-faced *ema* plaques. Try the *omokaru-ishi* — lift the stone lantern's stone and make a wish; if it's lighter than you expected, the wish comes true. It never is.

   03

   Okusha Hohaisho and the lifting stones

   Where the two tunnels rejoin, the inner shrine hangs with hundreds of miniature *torii* and fox-faced *ema* plaques. Try the *omokaru-ishi* — lift the stone lantern's stone and make a wish; if it's lighter than you expected, the wish comes true. It never is.

   ◉Street View
4. 04

   4

   Yotsutsuji crossing

   The climb to the saddle is the real work — twenty minutes of steps and gates. At *Yotsutsuji* the trees open and the whole south of the city lies below you. Most people turn back here, and there's no shame in it; the summit loop adds another hour for diminishing views.

   04

   Yotsutsuji crossing

   The climb to the saddle is the real work — twenty minutes of steps and gates. At *Yotsutsuji* the trees open and the whole south of the city lies below you. Most people turn back here, and there's no shame in it; the summit loop adds another hour for diminishing views.

   ◉Street View
5. 05

   5

   The summit loop and Ichinomine

   If you carry on, the path circles the peak past a string of small shrines to *Ichinomine*, the topmost. Go clockwise — the signs assume it. The reward is solitude rather than panorama; the gates thin and the forest closes in. You don't have to; Yotsutsuji is the honest turnaround.

   05

   The summit loop and Ichinomine

   If you carry on, the path circles the peak past a string of small shrines to *Ichinomine*, the topmost. Go clockwise — the signs assume it. The reward is solitude rather than panorama; the gates thin and the forest closes in. You don't have to; Yotsutsuji is the honest turnaround.

   ◉Street View
6. 06

   6

   Vermillion Café and the descent

   Coming down, the slopes hold a few tea houses; the one near Yotsutsuji does *kitsune udon* — noodles topped with the sweet fried tofu the foxes supposedly love. Finish the descent past the lower sub-shrines and bear left for the Keihan line at Fushimi-Inari, a different station from the one you started at.

   06

   Vermillion Café and the descent

   Coming down, the slopes hold a few tea houses; the one near Yotsutsuji does *kitsune udon* — noodles topped with the sweet fried tofu the foxes supposedly love. Finish the descent past the lower sub-shrines and bear left for the Keihan line at Fushimi-Inari, a different station from the one you started at.

   ◉Street View