Hi there!
The Fushimi Inari taisha shrine is one of the most recognizable icons in Kyoto.
It’s one of the most iconic places to visit in Japan!
The brightly colored orange torii gates have made this place a top photography spot in Kyoto. (And probably top instagram spot too.)
The Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is the most famous shrine in Kyoto.
Miyajima is another place in Japan that’s famous for its torii shrine gate, and if you’ve been researching your trip to Japan for at least a few weeks, you’ve probably come across the Miyajima torii gate too.
Fushimi Inari Shrine as part of a one day Kyoto itinerary
I made a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine as part of somewhat of a hiking day:
- Kyoto station to Fushimi Inari
- Walked up to the Mt Inari summit of the Fushimi Inari shrine trail
- Train and bus from Fushimi Inari to near Ginkakuji Temple (no temple visit this time – but that was part of the philosopher’s path walk)
- Daimonji-yama hike for city views
How to spend 5 days in Kyoto
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Day 3: Philosopher’s Path walk (temple to temple walk)
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass (temple to shrine walk)
More for your Kyoto shrine trip:
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How to get to Fushimi Inari Shrine
In general, Google Maps is a pretty reliable way to figure out your transportation options around Kyoto.
And, taking the train can be a good option!
Train to Fushimi Inari
There are 2 train stations near the shrine:
- Inari station (JR line)
- Fushimi Inari station (Keihan line)
Inari station (JR)
You can get to Fushimi Inari with a JR pass.
You’ll see your first torii gate almost as soon as you exit the JR train station. That leads the way to the shrine!
Fushimi Inari station (Keihan)
The shrine is about a 5-10 minute walk from the Keihan train station.
Which train station you end up at will depend on which part of Kyoto you’re coming from.
If you’re making Fushimi Inari the first activity of the day, like part of this 2 day Kyoto itinerary, it can be pretty easy to get from Kyoto station to Fushimi Inari by train.
Once at Kyoto station, you’ll follow the signs to Inari!
And you want to make sure you’re at the right platform, and that you only take the local train (and not express).
Once you’re on the train, this is a pretty quick ride, about 5-10 minutes.
Then following your shrine visit, you can go from Fushimi Inari to Ginkakuji Temple for the Philosopher’s Path walk or Daimonji-yama hike! You’ll get there by train and bus.
So, let’s say you’re starting your day at Kyoto Station.
This probably means that you’ll start your time around Fushimi Inari at the Inari JR station.
Inari train station to Fushimi Inari shrine grounds
Side note!
Japan experiences you will love
Read the reviews at partner websites!
- Kumano Kodo ancient pilgrimage trail (temples and shrines through the mountains)
- Must-see sumo show
- Traditional yukatabune dinner cruise
- Fun ninja lesson
- Koyasan pilgrimage temple town
And then…
Keep walking!
Before you get to the row of torii gates, there will be an area that you can explore around.
You’ll see your first fox too if you didn’t see one before. (You’ll see a lot of them as you continue your walk.)
And then…
Another torii gate!
A sign that you’re getting close to the trail of thousands of torii gates. 😉
Fushimi Inari shrine history
The history of this shrine goes back FAR. It’s believed that the origins date back to the year 711, or possibly even further back. Read about it on the official Fushimi Inari Taisha website.
Fushimi Inari trail map to Mt Inari summit
You’ll see maps when you’re on the Fushimi Inari trail.
At some point, you’ll want to look at the map to make sure you’re going the right direction.
There might be some parts that are a bit confusing and you’ll wonder if you’re going the wrong way.
Well, if you do end up going the wrong way, that’s a part of the Japan adventure. 😉
And it just means you get to walk through more torii gates!
Okay, so now…
What will you see on the Fushimi Inari trail through the thousands of torii gates?!
It’s said that there are over 5,000 torii gates located here.
So now…
Start the hike through 5,000 torii gates!
How much time to spend at Fushimi Inari?!
So it seems like many people are happy with a 20-30 minute stroll through the torii gates.
I guess the map can look intimidating with the amount of torii gates that are left to get up to the summit. 😉
But if you are looking to go to other places because you only have a short time in Kyoto, it could be good to give yourself around an hour here, even if you also would be happy with a 20 minute walk through the torii gates.
Now…
If you have more time to dedicate to the Fushimi Inari trail…
What does it mean for you that many people turn around after a short walk through the gates?!
It means that after a little while, the crowd can thin out a bit.
And the further up you get, there will be slightly less people.
To do the hike up to the Mt Inari summit and back, it could be good to give yourself a total of around 3 hours at Fushimi Inari.
How much does it cost to visit the Fushimi Inari shrine?!
There is NO entrance fee for the Fushimi Inari shrine! This makes is one of the top FREE things to do in Kyoto!
You may also like the Gion to Kiyomizu-dera walk!
HAPPY WALKING THROUGH TORII GATES OF FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA!
Use this Kyoto tourist map to plan out your 5 days in Kyoto with Fushimi Inari!
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Day 3: Philosopher’s Path walk
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass
Is a JR pass worth it?!
- Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
- In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
- Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
- So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
- Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
- And compare!
- Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.
Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)
👇 Explore the best places to visit in Japan!
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