Fushimi Inari Taisha

伏見稲荷大社

Another of Kyoto's jewels, located just south of Higashiyama in the Fushimi area. Dedicated to Inari, the Japanese fox goddess, Fushimi-Inari-taisha is the head shrine (taisha) for 40,000 Inari shrines across Japan. Stretching 230 meters up the hill behind it are hundreds of bright red torii (gates). A visitor could easily spend several hours walking up the hillside, taking in the beautiful views of the city of Kyoto and walking through the torii, which appear luminescent in the late afternoon sun. Countless stone foxes, also referred to as Inari, are also dotted along the path. Watch your fingers as you go - the fox spirits are said to be able to possess people by slipping through their fingernails.

• Heritage listed

• history
• free

Address

伏見稲荷大社

Getting there

Keihan Main Line train to Fushimi-Inari Station or JR Nara Line to Inari Station

Hours

No opening or closing times are listed, but if you arrive before 08:00 you'll beat most of the crowds

Price

Admission is free

Website

inari.jp (opens in a new tab)