Fushimi Inari Taisha

This is one of the busiest places that I visited in and around Kyoto.
It is a fantastic place to visit.
The walk to the top of the mountain is not for the feint hearted and can take over an hour.
There are a lot of people taking photos and selfies along the route so patience is required but the higher you get, the less this happens.
There are shops and toilets en route and the locally designed post cards are amazing.
There are vending machines at various points and these are reasonably priced
There are a number of places to rest whilst on the way up and down and also some shrines that can be visited.
The top is a bit of an anti climax but the reward of making it up there is enough in itself.
If you are going, good luck.

Tip: if you want a clean photo with no one in, just climb to the top of the hill. There will be hardly anyone there. You can take all the photos or videos you like without worrying others bombing your good shots.

This shrine is a must visit. After a good walk and taking lots of beautiful photos and videos. You can enjoy the different varieties of street foods for a decent price. Have fun.

The best time to visit the shrine is early in the morning to avoid the crowds. We started our journey at 5:30 am, at the peak of Cherry Blossom season. The shrine has endless red Torii gates and winding paths through lush forests. The steps can be a moderate challenge for some, but overall, an easy 1 hour climb to the top. This will be one of many of the highlights of your visit to Kyoto.

This is an incredible place to visit in Kyoto. I'd recommend going on very top of it, which takes around 40 minutes, or maybe an hour if walking slowly. That's where you could have a chance to take your pictures of the red gates without any tourists around, as it was really busy in the first few hundred meters at the bottom. While climbing the hil there will be several observation points and cafes and drinks vending machines as well as restrooms.

Another nice place to visit if you're in Kyoto, especially as it's free and only 5 minutes on train from Kyoto station. It's located immediately after you get off at Fushimi-Inari Station.

Shrine and the approximately 10,000 Tori are very impressive. They're spread all throughout the Shrine and you'll walk through many tunnels of them on the way up.

You're able to walk at your own pace and however far up you want to. The shrine is open 24 hours, but best to arrive early to beat the crowds and have the best photo ops. Also, the further you go up, the less crowded it gets. It's about 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers to the top, but you can turn around at any time.

Very beautiful place and I didn’t realise how big it is! The Tori gates go around and up the mountain which is quite a walk but there are less people the further up you walk. Lots of stores and food stands at the bottom of the shrine and halfway up is a beautiful lake with many shrines. We went around 4pm and it was quite busy but quieter further up the mountain. There is also a lot of bamboo hallway up by the lake which is great.

I came here in the evening around 7:30pm in January. There were no crowds and everything was very well lit. The only downside is most of the shops are closed at this point.

The hike up to the top of the mountain is quite difficult but so very worth it. There’s a lookout point a little over half way to the top that gives quite a wonderful view of Kyoto. It was truly breathtaking!

A word of caution if you are hiking to the very top hoping for an even better view. The summit of the climb has a shrine that is surrounded by trees so if you’re hiking to the top purely for the view you won’t get one. I could also hear some movement in the bushes as I climbed up the stairs. They have warnings posted in multiple areas about wild hogs so I made sure to keep an eye out. I never saw anything but I definitely heard noises.

I totally recommend you taking some time to come to this shrine. The thousands of gates are quite a sight to behold. Even if you don’t make it all the way to the top (and I don’t blame you… that was the most difficult climb I did on my entire trip through Japan) It’s so worth it to make it up to the lookout point.

A must go in Kyoto!

It’s a super touristic place in Kyoto so be prepared for a crowd, specially at the base of the mountain.

- Just 2 stations away from Kyoto Eki;
- Easy hike, all through a paved path and steps.
- Go before 9am to avoid the crowds;
- The higher you go, less crowded it gets;
- Don’t quite remember seeing any restrooms on the way up, so use the public restroom at the bottom before going up.
- Although it’s a free entrance and it’s not mandatory to give donations, I highly recommend to give donations to help them out.

Enjoy your hike guys!

We were not prepared for the "hike" to the summit and only went about half way up. It was an amazing experience. The gates are well kept and provide for some stunning photos. Can get very busy as it is a major tourist attraction - go further up for the best photos, with no people in them.

We went in jn the morning between 10 and 11 am. It wasn’t too crowded, only the entrance seemed to be very busy, the more you walk up the less crowded it is.
The full hike took us 2.5 hours to the top and down.
We stopped once on the way up to have coffee break with boiled eggs from the same place (took the picture of the place).
It’s owned by an old cute and nice couple 🥰.

Tips:
- Wear very comfy shoes.
- take some water.
- and wait until you go up a bit to take pictures it gets a lot emptier the further you go.

The place is definitely worth a visit.

The JR station is not far away, after a few steps you arrive at the gate.

As it is a very popular place, you can expect a lot of people, so you should take your time to see all the buildings.
There are always opportunities to take photos without the crowds.
It is therefore worth going all the way to the top, as there are fewer and fewer people there.

The gates, buildings and statues are very beautiful to look at.

⛩🌸

A must do in Japan. A classic and awesome place to go to. The hike to the top isn’t too long, and there are very beautiful spots to rest at each step of the way up.

There is some amazing street food as well at the bottom of the mountain. There is also a cute little mom and pop shop that you can get a hand written Torii gate for a good price that’s not too far up the path.

Even on a cloudy and slightly rain day it was a very beautiful nature filled sight. Would recommend!

Our visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto last October left us with a wonderful experience to cherish. This was our second visit to the shrine, and despite some minor inconveniences, it remains a highlight of our trip.

One drawback we encountered was the slightly inconvenient transportation options to reach Fushimi Inari Taisha. However, once we arrived, the sheer beauty and cultural significance of the shrine quickly overshadowed any initial inconvenience.

One notable aspect of our visit was the overwhelming number of visitors, especially at the beginning of the trail. It seemed almost impossible to take photos without capturing a crowd. However, as we ascended towards the summit of the mountain, we noticed a significant decrease in the number of visitors. This allowed us to capture stunning photos and truly appreciate the serene atmosphere and the mesmerizing torii gates lining the pathway.

The journey to the summit was not just about sightseeing but also about immersing ourselves in the spiritual ambiance and cultural heritage of Fushimi Inari Taisha. The winding trails, surrounded by lush greenery and the occasional glimpse of Kyoto's skyline, made the trek truly enchanting.

Overall, despite the initial challenges, Fushimi Inari Taisha captivated us with its beauty and tranquility. It's a place where nature, spirituality, and culture converge, offering a memorable experience that we will treasure for years to come.

Early morning hike was great! We got there by 7 and barely anyone around.
We had the place mostly to ourselves and a few locals.
Took about 2.5 hours for the entire hike with some time at the summit and in between for photos.
This was our 3rd visit and it is just as pretty as ever.
Do come early if you can so you can get the perfect lighting and photos with no crowd.

First time coming to this place, i thought it would be a short visit to the shrine, wasn’t prepared for a 1.5 hour hike to the summit. Dont worry about the huge crowd, the higher you get, the lesser the crowd becomes and the air is so refreshing as well. There are many stops between the summit, some souvenir and food shops are open but some aren’t.

Been here twice, once during autumn and another during winter. Both amazing experiences! During autumn the leaves are all red and orange, which really matches the tori gates. In winter, the snow falls and rests on the gates, which gives the place a mythical feeling.

The starting area with temples and food carts were quite crowded, but as we hiked up, the crowd started to thin out and we almost had the entire area to ourselves. Highly recommended to hike higher and explore more of this place. Could spend hours here

Very super crowded and slightly overrated temple site with thousands of torii gates on a hill. Photogenic place but the huge crowds of tourists make enjoying it difficult. Still one of the top places to visit in Kyoto. The village where the temple is located also features lots of souvenir shops and cafés/eateries. You can rent a kimono here as many people seem to do…

Very nice place. There were so many foreigners, even on weekdays. The trail wasn't that hard. It was very satisfying when you reached the peak. What a great experience!

Decided to visit at night to avoid the crowds and wasn't disappointed. This place is really nice with all the lanterns lit up. It's so easy to get to from Kyoto and at night theres plenty of seats on the train.

Incredible, can’t quite believe I got to experience this!!! Arrived at 8:30am (Saturday - mid February), a few people around, the largest crowd were at the start taking photos. Less crowds the more you go up, so I recommend waiting to take photos at the less crowded spots! Takes about 30 - 40 mins to reach the top, it’s so peaceful.

This is one of the best things to do in Kyoto but make sure you get here early !!!