Kyoto-fu Things to Do Tips by mikegr Top 5 Page for this destination

Fushimi Inari shrines are brighter at New Year

Visiting Fushimi Inari at New Year has advantages and disadvantges.

On the minus side, you have to contend with a lot of people (some of whom are very old) on the walk, and with oncoming people there is no room to pass them.

On the plus side a lot of the Japanese visitors to the shrines light candels, so that the normally gloomy interiors are brightly lit and far more appealing.

Buying miniature Tori Gates at Fushimi Inari

The miniature tori gates which can be seen as you walk around the shrines can be purchased at shops on the way (quite an unusual souvenir) - the small ones costing around 1050 yen.

Some shops (like the one in the picture!) will refuse to sell the gates to tourists, saying that they are for prayer purposes only - there is a tea shop on the corner of the main cross road in the path you will come to on the walk (as you come up the steps to the view point it is on the right hand side - the one after the turning!) - they were very helpful when it came to buying gates.

Buildings around Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha is a beautiful temple, but the buildings around are worth a look too.

There is an elegance about the buildings in the way in which they blend into the natural scenery, rather than detracting from it. The same cannot be said of the main temple buildings which are rather garish in comparisson.

I thought that these roof tops, with the blossoming tree behind were beautiful.

Monks at work - Tofukuji

As a tourist it is easy to see temple buildings as venues on a sightseeing itinerary, however a large number of these buildings are active places of worship.

When visiting Tofukuji at New Year the usually sealed building was opened so that it was possible to see the monks inside. it was the first time I have witnessed this in my 3 visits to the temple - so don't go there expecting to see it!

New Year at Fusimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha and the walk are generally fairly quiet, but New Year and the 2 days after it, are an entirely different story.

The place is entirely packed and the walk which can normally be done in an hour and a half or so takes almost twice as long.

Not the place to go for quiet contemplation at the start of a New Year but if you want to do as the Japanese do, don't miss it!

There are more photos in my Fushimi Inari New Year travelogue

Tofukuji Temple

Taking the walk from Fushimi Inari through the tori gates ends at Tofukuji.

The temple here is worth checking out. You can walk around the outside of many of the buildings in the complex for free, but must pay to enter the main temple. The covered bridge crossing a wooded valley and the raked gravel garden are particularly impressive (you can see the bridge from the outside of the temple on the West side (as in my picture) - however you must pay to cross it and gain access to he gardens).

Address: Tofukuji, a couple of stops South of Kyoto

Directions: South East of the Tofukuji stations on the JR and Keihan lines

Refreshments on the Fushimi Inari Walk

Don't worry too much about bringing refreshments on the Fushimi Inari walk. There are plenty of tea houses on the route, selling soft drinks and beer in addition to tea - you can also get food here. They are about every 500 metres or so, so you are never far from a break should you need it!

Address: Fushimi Inari (Keihan & JR lines) South of Kyoto

Directions: From either station head East towards the hills to Fushimi Inari Taisha (the red shrine) - go to the back right corner where the walk starts.

Tori Gates - Fushimi Inari

The bright red tori gates which are an unusual feature of the walk from Fushimi Inari, are paid for by individuals and businesses looking for success in business. Their names can be found inscribed and painted on the reverse sides of the gates.

Address: Fushimi Inari - (Keihan line and JR line)

Directions: From either station head east towards the hills, from Fushimi Inari Taisha (the red shrine) head to the back right corner where the walk through the tori gates begins

Fushimi Inari Taisha Festival

I visited Fushimi Inari Taisha on the 18th of June - there were posters everywhere indicating that there was a festival the next night (Saturday 19th June). The picture showed the temple all lit up at night and it looked very impressive.

I don't know if the festival takes place on the 19th every year or if it is on a Saturday night at around that time, but if you are in Kyoto around this time it might be worth checking it out at the tourist information office.

Address: Fushimi Inari Taisha

Directions: 100 metres from Fushimi Inari Station (Keihan line) or Inari Station (JR line)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

A brightly painted shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha makes a pleasant change from the understated brown colours of most Japanese shrines.

The shrine is dedicated (amongst others) to the gods of business - and indviduals and companies make offerings here to assure success in this area. While I was here I saw representatives from a company watching a specially organized traditional dance, with music performed on a koto, but I was not allowed to take photographs.

Address: Fushimi Inari -Keihan line 6 stops South of Sanjo

Directions: From the station walk east towards the hills go under the stone tori and bear right.