Fushimi Inari-taisha (Kyoto Prefecture): How to Visit, When to Go and What It Costs
伏見稻荷大社 · 伏見稲荷大社 · Fushimi Inari-taisha · Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Inarino Shrine · ふしみいなりたいしゃ
Fushimi Inari-taisha — Kyoto Prefecture
| Also known as | 伏見稻荷大社 · 伏見稲荷大社 · Fushimi Inari-taisha · Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Inarino Shrine · ふしみいなりたいしゃ |
| Region | Kyoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 34.967202, 135.773386 |
What it is
Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of Mount Inari, which rises to 233 metres (764 ft) above sea level. The shrine was formally founded in 711 CE by the Hata clan, an influential immigrant group from the Korean Peninsula.
The shrine grounds include trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines, spanning 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and taking approximately 2 hours to walk up. The mountain as a whole is treated as the shrine's sacred domain.
Inari is the kami of rice and agriculture, and merchants also worship Inari as the patron of business. Each of the shrine's roughly 10,000 torii were donated by a Japanese business, and approximately 800 of these are set in a row to form the Senbon Torii, creating the impression of a tunnel. The shrine is said to have as many as 32,000 sub-shrines throughout Japan.
When to go
The shrine is open year-round. The mountain trails take approximately 2 hours to walk up, so allow at least that much time if you plan to walk them. The day of the first horse of February (Hatsu-uma) has drawn large crowds since ancient times, and the shrine draws the most visitors of any shrine or temple in the Kinki region for New Year's visits.
Getting there
The shrine is located in the Fukakusa district of Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, about 4 kilometres north of the central Otesuji area of Fushimi. It sits within Kyoto prefecture, in the southern part of the Kyoto basin.
What it costs
The source material does not mention an admission fee for visiting the shrine or walking the mountain trails.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to walk up the mountain?
The trails up Mount Inari span 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and take approximately 2 hours to walk up.
Why are there so many torii gates?
Each of the roughly 10,000 torii at the shrine was donated by a Japanese business. Approximately 800 of them are set in a row to form the Senbon Torii, creating the impression of a tunnel. The gates designate the entrance to the holy domain of kami and protect it against wicked forces.
Who is worshipped at this shrine?
Inari, who was originally and remains primarily the kami of rice and agriculture. Merchants also worship Inari as the patron of business.
How old is the shrine?
The shrine was formally founded in 711 CE by the Hata clan, an influential immigrant group from the Korean Peninsula.
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Reference: Wikidata · Wikipedia (ja) · Wikipedia (zh) · Wikipedia (en)