Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto

Erected long back in 711, by the Hata family, the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is no doubt the biggest and most impressive of all the 40,000 Inari Shrines located across Japan. This famous shrine devoted to Inari, the Shinto god of grain harvest, sake and prosperity is a frequently visited place by Japanese merchants and traders who worship the god for prosperity.

Features

- The main building of the shrine is an outstanding display of Japan’s Momoyama architecture.
- The shrine is well known for its 4km long walking path lined with red torii gifted by worshippers visiting the shrine.Some 10,000 small torii that form an arch over the long avenue up the hill towards shrine offer a remarkable sight of Fushimi Inari.
- Among the several structures of the sanctuary, the Sakura-mon Gate and Go-Honden Shrine that precede the 4km long tunnel are noteworthy. The giant gate standing in front of the complex, which guards several smaller, lantern-laden structures inside the shrine adds grandeur to Fushimi Inari.
- Statues of menacing kitsune (foxes), an important animal in Japanese lore and believed to be the messengers of Inari, alternately stand with torii gates. Sometimes the fox is seen with a key in mouth, which is used in the rice granary. It is a common belief among the Japanese people that foxes like rice balls rolled in fried tofu, which are popularly called "o-inari-san". Form this belief the shrine derived its nickname "Oinari-san." The further you move up along the torii tunnel, the more fox statues will come on your way.
- Besides the famous torii lined main path, there are few more walking paths leading towards Fushimi Inari from the rear side of the shrine area. These sub-paths through a bamboo forest, which surrounds the shrine, offer a magical experience, far different than the main route.
- Visiting Fushimi Inari near dusk is particularly recommended for those who are interested in the true spirits of the forest. In the early evening as daylight fades, the dim light that leaks through the forest canopy and the sounds of native animals in the midst of quiet woods, make your walk through the torii tunnel extremely exciting. If you manage to get lost within the maze of torii, then that will surely add to your thrills.

How to Reach

The easiest way to reach Fushimi Inari Taisha is to take the train. If you take the JR Nara line, you have to get off at Inari station. You can go for Keihan line also. In that case the nearest station is Fushimi-Inari.

The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine remains open on all days for 24 hours.
No admission fee is charged for visiting this famous shrine.

If you are on a trip to Kyoto and don’t visit this famous Japanese shrine, then you will surely miss one of the greatest treasures of the Japanese architecture.

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