A walk in Kyoto

Fushimi Inari gates

伏見稲荷大社の千本鳥居

Best at 8 am

3.1 km, about 2.5 h, 6 stops from Inari Station. Every stop with its Japanese name and what to look for.

Start Inari Station

Rōmon Gate楼門
Built in 1589 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after he prayed here for his sick mother.
Main Hall本殿
The main hall. Stone foxes, the messengers of Inari, guard the shrine.
Senbon Torii千本鳥居
Two tunnels of gates side by side. Each torii is a gift, a custom since the Edo period.
Okusha and the Omokaru stones奥社奉拝所・おもかる石
Make a wish and lift the round stone on top. If it feels light, that's a good sign.
Kumataka-sha and Shin-ike熊鷹社・新池
A candle-lit shrine by a pond. Clap at the water; the echo is said to point to the lost.
Yotsutsuji crossroads四ツ辻
A crossroads with a wide view over south Kyoto. Turn back here, or loop the summit.

Paths can be steep or slippery, and places close or change their hours. Check before you go.

Plan the rest

Sources

Our summary of the sources below, checked Nov 9, 2026