Dedicated to the gods of sake and rice, the Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.
Five shrines dot the forested temple grounds, and the arched red lines of torii gates straddling the pathway leading up to Inari Mountain are a truly iconic sight.
You’ll also see plenty of stone foxes at this temple, another symbol of Shinto.
A lovely place for a stroll in rural surrounds, there are fine views of Kyoto from the top of the torii gate pathway up the mountain. Stop off for a sustaining bowl of tofu soup at the small restaurants along the way.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine is on Kyoto’s southeastern edge. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the JR Fushimi-Inari Station.
