# Sasuke Inari Shrine, Kamakura > Sasuke Inari is a small shrine to the god Inari in a wooded valley in western Kamakura. An avenue of red torii gates climbs to it, and its mossy slopes are covered with hundreds of small white fox figures — Inari's messengers. Entry is free. It's about 20 minutes on foot from Kamakura Station and 10 minutes from Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/sasuke-inari - City: [Kamakura](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura), Japan - YesGo score: 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: No fixed hours — daytime - 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, 139.53889 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Inari** — god of rice and prosperity, to whom the shrine is dedicated (source: en.wikipedia) - **Foxes** — Inari's messengers — hundreds of white figures on the slopes (source: travel guides) - **Yoritomo** — the first shogun founded the shrine, by tradition (source: en.wikipedia) - **A dream** — legend says an old man from the Hidden Village appeared to Yoritomo (source: en.wikipedia) - **Hidden Village** — Kakure-zato — the valley's old name (source: en.wikipedia) - **Free** — entry to the shrine (source: travel guides) - **10 minutes** — to Zeniarai Benzaiten shrine (source: travel guides) - **20 minutes** — on foot from Kamakura Station (source: travel 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. > **The white foxes** Foxes are the messengers of the god Inari, and worshippers leave small white fox figures at the shrine. There are hundreds: on steps, rocks, by lanterns and among the moss. Don't touch or move them — they're offerings. Many people bring their own figure as thanks for a wish come true. ## 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 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 Inari | Fushimi Inari | | --- | --- | --- | | Where | Kamakura | Kyoto | | Torii | One short avenue | Thousands on a mountain | | Crowds | Almost none | Very many | | Time | 20–30 minutes | 2–3 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 - [ ] Comfortable shoes — steps - [ ] Daylight hours - [ ] Insect repellent in summer - [ ] Zeniarai nearby - [ ] Don't touch the fox figures ## Kamakura temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Kamakura rated by YesGo. - [Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300 - [Tsurugaoka Hachimangū Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/tsurugaoka-hachimangu) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/zeniarai-benzaiten) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Sasuke Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/sasuke-inari) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Hōkoku-ji Temple (Bamboo Temple)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/hokoku-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ≈ ¥400 - [Kenchō-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kencho-ji) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ ¥500 - [Engaku-ji Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/engaku-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥500 - [Hase-dera Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-hase-dera) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ¥400 - [Enoshima Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/enoshima) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; tower and caves ≈ ¥500 ## 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 Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/sasuke-inari) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free 2. [Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/zeniarai-benzaiten) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free 3. [Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kōtoku-in)](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/kamakura-great-buddha) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ¥300 ## Good to know Sasuke Inari in Kamakura is not Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, nor an anime character. ## Tips - Entry is free. - Come in daylight. - Don't touch the fox figures. - Steps are slippery after rain. - Nearby: [Zeniarai Benzaiten](https://yesgo.io/japan/kamakura/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. ## How we checked The 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.