Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社)

Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most famous shrines in Japan, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. Its distinctive red corridor of torii gates attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. (Shrine’s official WEB site)

The Inari-daimyojin is the deity of the main shrine, and people pray for prosperous business, traffic safety, and academic success.

In addition, some 10,000 torii gates stand in a row along the approach to the shrine and in the mountains, each inscribed with the name of the donor. Walking along this approach to the shrine, one can feel the sacred atmosphere. Fushimi Inari Taisha is an important symbol of traditional Japanese culture and faith, and is a popular tourist attraction.

Buildings of Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Taisha is famous for its red Senbon-torii gate, but in fact there are many important cultural properties in its architecture. The main shrine, teahouse, gonden, outer shrine, romon (gate), north-south corridors (two buildings), okumiya (inner shrine), byakkosha (white fox shrine), ryogu shrine, gosha-aidono (five shrines), kada shrine, choja shrine, fujio shrine, and kumano shrine are all important cultural properties, and I recommend taking a closer look.

Nearby spots

Tofukuji Temple and its sub-temples are only one stop away by train, but not too far on foot.

Tofukuji Temple (東福寺)

If you like the works of painter Jakuchu Ito, you should also visit Sekihoji Temple. There are 500 stone arhats designed by Jakuchu Ito.

Sekihoji Temple (石峰寺) Temple associated with Ito Jakuchu