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Located in southern Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Shrine is the site of one of the most important shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and sake. The lush grounds are rich with vermillion amidst the vast trails of wooded forest.
The famous torii gates guide visitors on a scenic 4 km walk up sacred Mount Inari which stands 233 metres high. The hike will take you about 2-3 hours in total. The journey entails passing through over 4,000 gates, each one donated by a Japanese company to ensure prosperity. You will also observe a multitude of stone statues of foxes along the way, as these animals are considered to be messengers of Inari. Take time to stop and indulge in locally themed foods such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon ("Fox Udon"), both featuring fried tofu which is said to be a favorite food of foxes.
The Fuj shrine is one of Japan’s most visited Shinto shrines. Each new year, more than 3 million people come to pray for good fortune and pay their respects. Shinto is Japan's major religion alongside Buddhism.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Directions: Take the JR Nara Line train from Kyoto railway station, two stops to JR Inari (5 min). Free if you have a JR Pass, otherwise about $1.50US each way. Only local trains stop at JR Inari station. If unable to take the train, ride the bus from Kyoto City Bus Stop (13 min).
Naiku Shrine
Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, known as Ise Jinhu, dates back to the 3rd Century and still remains the spiritual home of Japan’s national religion, Shinto.
A typical visit to the Inner Shrine takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes. It starts from the Uji Bridge, where you journey across a 100-meter long wooden bridge over the Isuzugawa River. The shrine grounds offer a large dose of tranquility and fascinate through their simplicity. Visitors will find themselves surrounded by little more than gravel-covered walkways and sparsely painted shrine structures, wooded by a serene forest. After passing the purification trough and one more torii gate, visitors can cleanse and purify themselves at a riverside site, using the water of the sacred Isuzugawa River. Keep following the path to the main sanctuary, and you’ll pass the Kaguraden, a building complex where tourists and visitors can purchase charms and amulets.
Venture up to the top of a flight of stone stairs and you will find the main sanctuary. The main hall enshrines the Sun Goddess which is surrounded by multiple sets of fences. Visitors are only allowed to go to the outermost perimeter and photography is not allowed. Corative wooden beams (katsuogi), differing slightly from the Outer Shrine.
Directions: The Inner Shrine stands several kilometres outside of central Ise and can be reached by bus from Iseshi Station, Ujiyamada Station and the Outer Shrine in 10-15 minutes and for 430 yen one way. It can also be reached from Isuzugawa Station by bus (6 min., 230 yen one way, frequent departures) or on foot.