Hotels near Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine is Japan's most photographed Shinto site - the head shrine of Inari, god of rice and prosperity. Around 10,000 vermilion torii gates form covered tunnels that wind 4 km up the 233-metre Mount Inari. Each gate was donated by a Japanese business or family - dates and donor names appear on the back of every gate.

The shrine is free, open 24/7. The full mountain loop takes 2-3 hours; the Yotsutsuji intersection (halfway up, 30-40 min hike) gives a panoramic view of southern Kyoto and is where many people turn back. Fox statues (kitsune, Inari's messenger) appear at every shrine sub-altar. Souvenir mini-torii gates start at JPY 500.

Pro Tip: Arrive at sunrise (5-6.30am in summer, 6.30-7.30am in winter) for empty torii corridors and silent forest. By 9am the lower paths are packed three-deep with selfie sticks. Inari station is 5 minutes on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station - the first train leaves at 5.18am.