Located in Fushimi – Ku, Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, Fushimi Inari temple is world-famous for its unique location and 10,000s of vermillion Torri Gate tunnel.
There are more than 2000 temples scattered around Kyoto, but Fushimi shrine is one of the most important and sacred shrines in Kyoto as the shrine is dedicated to the “Shinto” God of Rice. Visitors can see many fox statues placed around the shrine because it is believed foxes are the messengers of Inari.
Fushimi shrine attracts thousands of visitors’ yearlong for two main reasons. One is the Torri gates tunnel which leads to the vast forest of sacred mountain Inari. These gates are considered a gateway to the world of gods. The gates are painted in Reddish yellow, the color of the sun to symbolize absolute power, eternity and goodness. Gates are not just for decoration; most visitors come here to pray for prosperity, business and make wishes.
Behind the shrines stands the Inari Mountain, a well-known hiking trail. The hike to the summit takes about two three hours, but visitors can turn around at any point. Along the trail, there are multiple other shrines that you can visit. Thirty – forty minutes into the trail, visitors will reach the “Yotsutsuji” intersection, roughly halfway up the mountain, where you can see the beautiful vast view of Kyoto city. For travelers searching for a unique location to view the city limits, mount Inari is the right place.
