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Sasuke Inari Shrine, Kamakura

Small moss-covered wooden shrine at Sasuke Inari in Kamakura surrounded by ferns, stone lanterns and many white fox figurines
Photo: Ocdp, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
Hours
No fixed hours — daytime
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Highlights
An avenue of red torii and white foxes
Atmosphere
Quiet forest, moss and ferns
Nearby
Zeniarai Benzaiten — 10 minutes
Getting there
About 20 minutes from Kamakura Station
Coordinates
35.32441, 139.53889YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Inarigod of rice and prosperity, to whom the shrine is dedicated
Sourceen.wikipedia
FoxesInari's messengers — hundreds of white figures on the slopes
Sourcetravel guides
Yoritomothe first shogun founded the shrine, by tradition
Sourceen.wikipedia
A dreamlegend says an old man from the Hidden Village appeared to Yoritomo
Sourceen.wikipedia
Hidden VillageKakure-zato — the valley's old name
Sourceen.wikipedia
Freeentry to the shrine
Sourcetravel guides
10 minutesto Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine
Sourcetravel guides
20 minuteson foot from Kamakura Station
Sourcetravel guides

What is Sasuke Inari?

Sasuke Inari is a small shrine to Inari, the god of rice, prosperity and success in business, in a quiet wooded valley in western Kamakura, right next to Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine. The valley was long known as the Hidden Village of Kamakura.

By tradition, the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo founded it: while he was in exile, an old man from the Hidden Village appeared in his dream and told him when to act. Once he became shogun, Yoritomo built the shrine here in gratitude. Another version has a fox messenger of Inari appearing in the dream — which is why the shrine is seen as a place of luck in new ventures and careers.

Entry and atmosphere

Entry is free, and the shrine has no fixed hours — according to guides, it's best to come in daylight. Unlike Kyoto's famous Fushimi Inari, there's just one short avenue of gates here, but almost no people.

From the road an avenue of red torii gates climbs to the shrine, followed by stone steps to the main hall. All around is dense forest, ferns, and moss on the rocks and lanterns. In summer it's cool and damp, and after rain everything is especially green.

What to see

  • The avenue of red torii at the entrance.
  • White fox figures on the slopes.
  • The main hall at the top of the steps.
  • Stone lanterns in the moss.
  • The valley's forest and ferns.
  • Zeniarai Benzaiten — 10 minutes away.

How to get to Sasuke Inari

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. From Kamakura Station — west exit, about 20 minutes on foot west, the last stretch uphill.
  2. From Zeniarai Benzaiten — about 10 minutes on foot.
  3. From the Great Buddha — by the Daibutsu trail and past Zeniarai, about 40 minutes.
  4. From Tokyo — JR Yokosuka line to Kamakura, about an hour.
  5. Taxi — about 10 minutes from the station.

Sasuke Inari or Fushimi Inari

Sasuke Inariyou are hereKamakuraOne short avenueAlmost none20–30 minutes
Fushimi InariKyotoThousands on a mountainVery many2–3 hours

How long do you need?

20–30 minutes is enough for the shrine. It's almost always paired with neighbouring Zeniarai Benzaiten, where money is washed, and from there you can follow the Daibutsu trail over the hills to the Great Buddha.

The paths and steps here are steep and slippery after rain — you'll want comfortable shoes. Bring insect repellent in summer: the forest has plenty of mosquitoes.

It's one of Kamakura's quietest places: visitors who make it to Zeniarai often don't know the forest shrine with its foxes is just ten minutes away. On weekday mornings you may have it entirely to yourself.

Is Sasuke Inari worth visiting?

Yes: forest, moss, red gates and hundreds of white foxes make it one of Kamakura's most atmospheric spots, and it's all free.

The YesGo take: the shrine is small and not worth a special trip on its own — but paired with Zeniarai and the trail to the Great Buddha it makes a superb walk. If you've already seen Fushimi Inari, this is something quite different: silence instead of crowds.

Before you go: checklist

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Kamakura temples: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)4640 min¥30015 min walk
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine441 hFree28 min walk
Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine4430 minFree6 min walk
Sasuke Inari Shrineyou are here4330 minFree—
Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)3845 min≈ ¥4002.7 km
Kenchō-ji Temple381 h≈ ¥50030 min walk
Engaku-ji Temple371 h¥50029 min walk
Hase-dera Temple351 h 15 min¥40025 min walk
Enoshima Island343 hfree; tower and caves ≈ ¥5006.0 km

Kamakura's hills in half a day

Sasuke Inari shrine with its white foxes in the morning, then Zeniarai Benzaiten, and along the trail to the Great Buddha. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Sasuke Inari Shrineyou are here30 min · free
  2. 6 min walk from the previous stopZeniarai Benzaiten Shrine30 min · free
  3. 20 min walk from the previous stopGreat Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)40 min · ¥300

3 places · about 2 h 6 min with walks · 26 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Komachi-dori Street

Kamakura, Japan

45 min · free · 22 min walk

Hase-dera Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h 15 min · ¥400 · 25 min walk

How to do it right

  • Entry is free.
  • Come in daylight.
  • Don't touch the fox figures.
  • Steps are slippery after rain.
  • Nearby: Zeniarai Benzaiten.

Questions

How much is entry to Sasuke Inari?

Entry is free.

What are the opening hours?

There are no fixed hours — come in daylight.

Why are there so many foxes?

Foxes are Inari's messengers; worshippers leave the figures.

Who founded the shrine?

By tradition, the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo.

How do I get there?

About 20 minutes on foot from the west exit of Kamakura Station.

How long do you need?

20–30 minutes.

What's nearby?

Zeniarai Benzaiten and the trail to the Great Buddha.

Is it like Fushimi Inari?

Far fewer gates, but quiet and almost free of tourists.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Sasuke Inari Shrine — founding by Yoritomo, the dream, the Hidden Village, proximity to Zeniarai
  • Travel guides — torii, foxes, hours, access (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q45470 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe founding legend is from Wikipedia; we don't retell the military details of the story. The torii, foxes, lack of hours and access are from guides; hours are marked 'being checked'. Time needed is the YesGo estimate.

Top YesGo picks: Kamakura

Kenchō-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ≈ ¥500

Engaku-ji Temple

Kamakura, Japan

1 h · ¥500

Enoshima Island

Kamakura, Japan

3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500

All places: Kamakura →