Kyoto 2023 Travel Log: Visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and the Senbon Torii

(Warning: This post is long and photo-heavy.)

We decided to take a day trip to Kyoto since it's only 15 minutes away from Osaka by Shinkansen. So obviously, we had to stop by the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (the head shrine of the kami, Inari) and the Senbon Torii (1,000 Torii Gates).

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Temizu-ya at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Chōzubachi at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Kitsune statue at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Wall of ema at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
The Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
The Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
The Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
The Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
The Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Stone lantern at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fugenzo yaezakura trees at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Fugenzo yaezakura trees at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

It's a truly beautiful place with stunning architecture amidst forests of greenery. (Shinto is also an incredibly interesting religion, if you want to read up on it.) Only problem is, we got there just shortly after 9:00AM, which means hundreds of people from tour groups were also there. To the point where we didn't even bother walking through 50 of the torii gates. We decided to explore the other side of the shrine instead which is, frankly, just as gorgeous and scenic. (And even though we missed the cherry blossoms in Tokyo, we caught some late-blooming ones here!) If you are planning to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (which you absolutely should if you're going to Kyoto — it's truly a work of art), I highly recommend you try visiting before 8:00AM to get the most peaceful experience of the place.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward

Kyoto, Japan 〒612-0882

+81-75-641-7331