Kyoto Free Travel-Fushimi Inari Shrine🦊⛩️

🌟Tour Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

🗓️Attraction/Store Information: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine🦊⛩️
📍Address: Located in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, connecting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Shrine, and Gion.

🈺Opening Hours: Open 24 hours a day
💰Admission: Free

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Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine🦊⛩️ is one of Kyoto's most popular attractions.

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🦊 Introduction to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

I. Basic Information
• Location: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City. The shrine entrance is right outside Inari Station on the JR Nara Line.
• Founded: 711 AD, with a history of 1,300 years
• Principal deity: Inari-Omikami (blesses bountiful harvests, prosperous business, and safe families)
• Highlights:
• The head shrine of all Inari shrines in Japan
• Famous for its Thousand Torii Gates, a representative attraction of Kyoto
• Statues of foxes (Inari's messengers) are found throughout the grounds, often holding keys, rice ears, or jade in their mouths

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II. Highlights
1. Romon (Shrine Main Gate)
• The bright red large Torii and Romon are a signature angle for photographs
2. Main Hall
• An Important Cultural Property, pray for prosperous business and safe families
3. Thousand Torii Gates
• Fushimi Inari's most famous attraction
• Rows of vermilion torii gates stretch along the mountain path, creating a dreamlike tunnel-like experience.
• Many torii gates are dedicated by businesses or individuals, and inscriptions can be seen on their backs.
4. Okusha Shrine (Omokari Stone)
• It is said that if you lift a stone and it feels lighter than you imagined, your wish will be granted; if it feels heavier, your wish will be harder to fulfill.
5. Mt. Inari Hiking Route
• Approximately 4 kilometers in total, reaching the summit takes 2–3 hours.
• Along the way, you'll find numerous small shrines and torii gates, gradually becoming less crowded and more tranquil.
• From the summit, you can overlook Kyoto's cityscape.

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III. Recommended Itinerary

⏰ Short Tour (1.5–2 hours)
1. Depart from JR Inari Station → Great Torii Gate → Main Hall
2. Thousand Torii Gates → Okusha Shrine (Experience the "Omokari Stone")
3. Descend → Visit Omotesando Shopping Street (Fox-shaped Food & Souvenirs)

👉 Suitable for travelers on a tight schedule or those who prefer not to hike

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⏰ Complete Hiking (Half Day, 3–4 hours)

1. Great Torii Gate → Visit the Main Hall

2. Thousand Torii Gate → Visit the Oku-Sha Shrine

3. Hiking Trail (Rest at the Yotsuji Observatory and take photos of the Kyoto cityscape)

4. Continue to the summit (Inariyama) → Visit the small shrine

5. Descend along the trail → Enjoy Inari sushi and kebabs after descending

👉 Suitable for those who enjoy a slower pace and hiking

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IV. Best Time to Visit

• Early Morning (6–8 AM): Least crowded, perfect for photographing the "Sky View of the Thousand Torii Gates"

• Evening Sunset: Soft light creates a dreamlike scene of the Torii and mountain views

Nighttime: The shrine is open all day, and the dimly lit area creates a mysterious atmosphere.

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5. Must-Try Foods (Omotesando)
• Inari sushi (fried bean curd sushi, symbolizing the fox's favorite)
• Fox-shaped grilled senbei (shaped like a fox face)
• Grilled kebabs and eel (street vendors)
• Matcha sweets and fox amulets as souvenirs

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6. Tips
• Admission: Free
• Hours: 24 hours a day
• Shoes: Comfortable sneakers are recommended for hiking.
• Crowds: This popular attraction is best viewed early in the morning or evening.
• Photography: Shooting the Senbon Torii gates from an oblique angle is recommended to create a sense of extended length.

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