Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto’s #1 Tourist Destination!

An Otherwordly Feeling: The Thousand Torii

The Inari shrine itself is visible from nearby rooftops and alleyways. The god is referred to as “O-Inari San” and is the god of food and agriculture. The god’s symbols are the fox, who serves as his messenger, and the red torii. Being a god’s messenger, the fox is said to be invisible. Called “Hyakko-san”, the fox is also a symbol of worship. There are around 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan, with Fushimi Inari serving as the main shrine, giving it an elevated position of respect and importance.

Without a doubt, the most impressive sight at the shrine is the huge row of torii which stretch towards the mountain and almost seem to be swallowed by it. The main temple remains visible from the torii, a strikingly beautiful scene, and the same one used in the JR commercials. The otherworldly atmosphere of the place, the seemingly endless number of torii, and the melting together of the colors is sure to leave you with chills. Take your time and enjoy.

Well Recognized by Foreign Tourists as the Setting for “Memoirs of a Geisha”

With the light penetrating through the torii, walking through them feels a bit like swimming towards the bottom of an ocean. It’s no wonder that one of the most famous scenes from “Memoirs of a Geisha” was filmed here. Starring Ken Watanabe and Yakusho Koji and directed by Steven Spielberg, “Memoirs of a Geisha” is the story of Chiyo, a young girl who is sold into a geisha house and takes Sayuri as her geisha name.

In the movie there’s a famous and very emotional scene where a heavy-hearted Sayuri, determined to become a famous geisha, runs through the torii. When asked why they came to Fushimi Inari Taisha, some female tourists from abroad said, “We came because we wanted to see the torii from the movie in person. It’s just surreal, a beautiful world. You can really feel a divine presence here.”

And the ratings on Trip Advisor substantiate the shrine’s popularity, as it was chosen as the #1 place to go by non-Japanese tourists in 2014. Users commented on how unique it is, saying that there’s really no other place like it and that the beauty of the torii leave a long lasting impression.

Also Popular with Anime Fans

The gates extend all the way across the mountain, where the shrine itself is perched. Walking through them, you wonder if they’ll ever actually end. Passing through the gates is a custom that began in the Edo-era and continues to the present day. It’s an act of reverence and spiritual preparation done before praying at the temple. The red color of the torii is said to dispel magic. Walking through the many gates, you can feel the power of the prayers of those who have come before you.

Once you’ve passed through all the gates you will arrive at the oku no in (main shine / inner sanctuary). As shown in the picture above, you can see thousands of fox-faced ema (pictoral offerings). Visitors to the shrine are free to draw these however they like, and looking at all of the different drawings is quite enjoyable. It’s amazing how good they are. This holy place was also featured in the anime “Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha”, and many visitors to the shrine are fans.

Light and Heavy Prayers -- How to Pray with the Omokaru Stone

There’s still more to see at the inner sanctuary. A pair of lanterns can be found at the back right corner of the grounds. There you’ll find a round stone, about the size of a handball, called the Omokaru stone (the name is a combination of the words omoi, which means heavy, and karui, meaning light). The stone is said to have powers of divination.

First, decide which lantern you’ll pray towards – the one that says heavy, or the one that says light. Then, take the stone in your hand. As you pray, maybe you’ll realize that your request isn’t as heavy as you thought, and it’ll one day come true. Or maybe you’ll realize that it’s just too heavy, and that it might be difficult for it to ever come to be.

If you plan to go to the inner sanctuary, try the Oyama Meguri (round-the-mountain) trail. The trail goes back and forth on Inari mountain, which rises 230m above sea level. In addition to the gates that run all the way over, the path has plenty of other rich history to enjoy, including smaller shrines and mounds. About halfway up the mountain there’s a rustic teahouse that’s great for taking a short break.

The trail is 4 kilometers long and you can expect to take about 2 hours. The course runs clockwise. It might be a bit difficult if you’re out of shape. The stones used to pave the path can also be a bit slippery, so sneakers are recommended.

Mysterious and a Little Bit Strange: Meet the Kuchi-iri, Inari’s Intermediary Gods

Last but not least is this little-known place that isn’t even on the map. After going around the mountain, instead of turning left to head towards Kumataka Shrine, continue straight and you’ll see the Araki Shrine area. Here you’ll find the a small shrine called the Kuchi-ire Inari Shrine.

The kuchi-ire themselves are said to be gods who play a coordinating role in deciding fate. Whether it be love or work related fortunes, the kuchi-ire are there to find the right fit. The messengers to the kuchi-ire are pictured above – the kuchi-ire dolls.

They’re a bit weird to look at, but their divine connection adds a bit of mysteriousness, even cuteness. They’re presented as a set of three. The two on the outside are actually a couple, and the one in the middle is acting as a messenger to god on their behalf.

To use them, first take the three dolls and proceed to the front of the kuchi-ire shrine, and offer a prayer. Then, take them home and leave them somewhere nice until your prayer is answered. When that happens, you return them to the temple.

Dolls that are left in homes as decoration without being returned are sure to get homesick. They probably prefer to be taken back where they belong and are surely happiest when they’re full of good memories of people getting married and finding jobs that bring them joy.