# Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto > Fushimi Inari is Japan's head shrine of the god Inari, in south-east Kyoto. Thousands of red torii gates climb the slopes of Mount Inari, guarded by stone foxes — the deity's messengers. Entry is free and the grounds are open 24 hours. It's about 45 minutes up to the Yotsutsuji crossroads with its city view, and about 2 hours to the summit. JR Inari station is a minute away. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari - City: [Kyoto](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto), Japan - YesGo score: 55/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 2 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: Grounds open 24 hours - Senbon Torii: A corridor of ≈ 800 gates in a row - To Yotsutsuji: ≈ 45 minutes — view over Kyoto - To the summit: ≈ 2 hours on ≈ 4 km of trails - Getting there: JR Nara line from Kyoto Station to Inari — 5 minutes - Coordinates: 34.96720, 135.77339 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **711** — the year the deity Inari took up residence on the mountain (source: inari.jp) - **≈ 30,000** — Inari shrines across Japan — this is the head shrine (source: inari.jp) - **233 m** — height of sacred Mount Inari (source: inari.jp) - **≈ 10,000** — torii on the mountain — donated by companies and people (source: en.wikipedia) - **≈ 800** — gates in a row in the Senbon Torii corridor (source: en.wikipedia) - **Foxes** — Inari's messengers — their statues stand all over the mountain (source: inari.jp) - **≈ 4 km** — of mountain trails, about 2 hours up (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥0** — to enter the grounds (source: travel guides) ## What is Fushimi Inari Taisha? **Fushimi Inari Taisha** is the head shrine of the god **Inari**, to whom some **30,000 shrines** across Japan are dedicated. According to the official site, the deity took up residence on Mount Inari in **711**, and people have come ever since to pray for good harvests, business success, family wellbeing and wishes fulfilled. The main shrine building is an Important Cultural Property. The shrine is famous for its **torii** — red gates donated by companies and individuals in thanks for good fortune. There are about **10,000** on the mountain, and in the **Senbon Torii** ('thousand torii') corridor about 800 stand so close together they form a tunnel. Stone **foxes**, Inari's messengers, sit everywhere — often with a rice-granary key in their mouths. > **When to go** By day the entrance and Senbon Torii are very crowded. The grounds are open 24 hours, so come early in the morning — before 8:00 — or late afternoon. The higher you climb, the fewer the people: beyond the Yotsutsuji crossroads the trail is almost empty. It's a working shrine — don't block the path for photos or touch the offerings. ## How the shrine works From JR Inari station you come straight to the great **romon** gate and the main hall. Behind it begins the **Senbon Torii** corridor, leading to the Okusha shrine. From there the trail climbs the mountain past small shrines, stone foxes and thousands of gates. About 45 minutes up is the **Yotsutsuji** crossroads with a view over Kyoto; many people turn back here. The full loop over the summit is about 4 km and 2–3 hours. Entry is **free**. There are teahouses and drink machines along the way, but prices rise towards the top. ## What to see - **The romon gate** and main hall at the foot. - **Senbon Torii** — a tunnel of hundreds of gates. - **Stone foxes** — Inari's messengers. - **The Yotsutsuji crossroads** with a view over Kyoto. - **The summit of Mount Inari** — 233 m. - **Small shrines** along the trail. ## How to get to Fushimi Inari 1. **JR Nara line** — from Kyoto Station to Inari, 2 stops, about 5 minutes; the shrine is right outside. 2. **Keihan line** — to Fushimi-Inari station, about 5 minutes on foot. 3. **From Gion** — Keihan from Gion-Shijo, about 10 minutes. 4. **From Kansai airport** — Haruka express to Kyoto Station, about 75 minutes, then the JR Nara line. 5. **From Osaka** — Keihan to Fushimi-Inari, about 40 minutes. ## To Yotsutsuji or to the summit | | To Yotsutsuji | To the summit | | --- | --- | --- | | Time | ≈ 45 minutes up | ≈ 2–3 hours round | | Effort | Steps, moderate | Many steps | | View | Kyoto panorama | Little view, forest | | Crowds | Busy up to the crossroads | Few | ## How long do you need? Allow **an hour** for the shrine and Senbon Torii, about **2 hours** with the climb to Yotsutsuji, and half a day for the full loop. Bring water and good shoes: there are thousands of steps. Fushimi Inari works well as your first stop of the day: afterwards **Gion** or **Sanjusangen-do** are 10 minutes away. ## Is Fushimi Inari worth visiting? Yes: it's one of Japan's most recognisable places, the torii tunnels are stunning in person, and it's free and open around the clock. The YesGo take: at the bottom it's packed by day, and 'empty tunnel' photos are nearly impossible. Come at dawn, climb at least to Yotsutsuji and don't be afraid to go higher — the atmosphere up there is quiet and completely different. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] An early arrival — before 8:00 - [ ] Good shoes — thousands of steps - [ ] Water with you - [ ] Time for Yotsutsuji or the summit - [ ] A coin for prayer ## Kyoto temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Kyoto rated by YesGo. - [Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 - [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥500 - [Yasaka Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/yasaka-shrine) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Philosopher's Path](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/philosophers-path) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Sanjusangen-do](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/sanjusangen-do) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · about ¥600 - [Ryoan-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/ryoan-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥600 - [Arashiyama](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/arashiyama) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 ## South-east Kyoto in a day Fushimi Inari at dawn, Sanjusangen-do hall in the afternoon, and Kiyomizu-dera temple in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free 2. [Sanjusangen-do](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/sanjusangen-do) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · about ¥600 3. [Kiyomizu-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 ## Good to know Fushimi Inari in Kyoto is the head Inari shrine; small Inari shrines with foxes and red gates are found all over Japan, including Tokyo. ## Tips - Come before 8:00 — fewer people. - Above Yotsutsuji it's almost empty. - Thousands of steps — wear good shoes. - Don't block the tunnel for photos. - Next: [Sanjusangen-do](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/sanjusangen-do). ## Questions ### How much does Fushimi Inari cost? Entry is free. ### What are the opening hours? The grounds are open 24 hours. ### How long is the hike to the top? About 2 hours up; the full loop takes 2–3 hours. ### Where's the best view? At the Yotsutsuji crossroads, about 45 minutes from the foot. ### How do I get there? JR Nara line from Kyoto Station to Inari — about 5 minutes. ### How many torii are there? About 10,000 on the mountain, about 800 in the Senbon Torii corridor. ### Why are there foxes? Foxes are considered messengers of the god Inari. ### When is the best time to go? At dawn or late afternoon. ## How we checked Head-shrine status, the number of Inari shrines, the year 711, the mountain's height and the fox messengers are from the official site. The number of torii, trail length and climbing time are from Wikipedia. Free entry and 24-hour access come from guides and aren't stated outright on the official site, so we mark them unconfirmed. The time to Yotsutsuji and access are from guides. ## Sources - Shrine official site (inari.jp/en) — head shrine, 30,000 shrines, 711, 233 m mountain, foxes (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Fushimi Inari-taisha — number of torii, Senbon Torii, trail length and climbing time - Travel guides — free entry, 24-hour access, Yotsutsuji, access (unofficial) - Wikidata Q714828 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.