A Spiritual Journey Through Fushimi Inari Taisha
Exploring Kyoto With Monca
A Shrine That Really Pulled Us In
We had heard about Fushimi Inari Taisha but being there felt different. It’s one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, dedicated to Inari Ōkami. From what I read, that’s the Shinto deity of rice and prosperity. Pretty wild that it was built way back in 711.
First Look. That Gate Is Something Else
The first thing we saw was this huge gate called the Rōmon Gate. Turns out it was built in the late 1500s by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Past that is the Senbon Torii, the famous row of orange gates. Thousands of them. All donated by people and businesses. Each one is kind of like a thank you or a prayer.
The Hike That Hits Different
The trail up Mount Inari is a decent hike, around 4km. Along the way, there are tons of little shrines and stone fox statues. I read that these foxes are called kitsune and are messengers for Inari. The path winds through forest and it’s super quiet. At one point, there’s a spot called Yotsutsuji where you can see all of Kyoto. That part definitely made the climb worth it.
A Few Cool Things We Found
There’s a spot called Omokaru Ishi. You try to lift a stone and if it feels lighter than you expected, your wish might come true. Not gonna lie, it was heavier than I thought.
Those fox statues. A lot of them hold keys or little balls. I read that the keys are for the rice storehouses. Thought that was kind of cool.
We Ate So Much
We tried inari sushi and kitsune udon, both tied to the fox deity. Basically, tofu everywhere. Inari sushi is rice inside fried tofu. Kitsune udon is noodles with tofu on top. So good after a long walk.
If You’re Thinking About Going
It’s easy to get to. Just a short walk from JR Inari Station or Fushimi Inari Station. And it’s open 24 hours which means you can go at sunrise or even late at night when it’s empty. Also it’s free.
If you want to get good photos, head there as early as you can. This place gets packed fast.
Why It Stuck With Us
More than anything this felt peaceful. Not in a cheesy way. Just quiet and grounding. You don’t need to know everything about the history to feel it.
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