If you’ve seen photos of Kyoto, chances are they feature the vibrant red torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine.
This picturesque attraction appears in countless travel ads, but Fushimi Inari Shrine is more than just a photo hotspot — in my opinion, hiking the mountain trail behind the shrine is the must-do activity in Kyoto.
As I ascended the slopes of Mount Inari along the peaceful forest path, I couldn’t help but feel like I was doing a proper pilgrimage. It felt spiritual. And I couldn’t believe that so many people come to this iconic Shinto site without exploring beyond the torii gate tunnel immediately behind the shrine — there’s an entire hillside covered with those endless rows of red sitting right behind it, and it’s so much lovelier once you escape the bustle of people below.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to explore one of Japan’s most recognisable landmarks, and I think that you’ll enjoy it, too. Here’s my guide to seeing the best of Fushimi Inari Shrine by hiking the full torii gate trail in Kyoto!
Quick summary:
Planning to hike the Fushimi Inari Shrine trail in Kyoto? This guide covers how to get there, the best time to visit, a walking route map, and tips for completing the full torii gate loop. You’ll also find tour options for early mornings, hidden forest trails, and magical night walks.
Recommended Fushimi Inari tours:
🌅 Fushimi Inari Early Morning Tour – Beat the crowds with a 7AM guided walk + insider tips and a unique souvenir
🌲 Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour – Venture off the main path to bamboo groves, forest trails, and secret shrines (1PM start)
🌙 Fushimi Inari Night Walking Tour – Experience the torii gates by lantern light on this peaceful 6PM evening walk
How to get to Fushimi Inari Shrine
By metro
We took the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station, a short 5-minute walk from the shrine. This is a great option if you’re staying near Gion or eastern Kyoto, as we were.
By JR train
You can also take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Inari Station (a good option if you’re travelling on a JR Rail Pass). The Fushimi Inari Shrine entrance is directly across the street.
When to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
We arrived at 8:45AM, and the main torii gate entrance was already buzzing with visitors. Many tour buses arrive fairly early in the day, so it’s worth getting ahead of the crowd. If you’re wondering about Fushimi Inari opening hours—the shrine is always open (24/7), and entry is free.
🌅 Want a totally peaceful start? Join the 7AM Early Morning Fushimi Inari Tour to beat the crowds, learn the shrine’s secrets, and snap perfect crowd-free photos — plus, you’ll receive a souvenir that’s unique to Fushimi Inari!
Fushimi Inari hiking guide:
1 — Fushimi Inari Tower Gate
2 — Yotsutsuji Intersection
3 — Mount Inari Summit
I haven’t marked all of the shrines along the route on my Fushimi Inari map above, purely because there are just so many of them! You’ll pass dozens of small shrines along the route, so just enjoy them as they come.
The full Fushimi Inari hike is a scenic 4km (2.5 mi) loop that winds up and over Mount Inari. The path is framed by vibrant red torii gates and is set in a quiet and beautiful forest. It takes around 1.5–2 hours to complete the full loop.
It’s not a difficult walk, but you’ll be walking up many steps, and it’s definitely not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Below is a detailed breakdown of the Fushimi Inari loop trail, based on our own experience.
Stage 1: The main shrine and the famous torii tunnel
Your walk begins at the base of the mountain, where you’ll find the main shrine buildings. At the entrance, you’ll pass through the striking Fushimi Inari Tower Gate, a large structure built in the 16th century that serves as the symbolic gateway to the shrine.
Behind the main gate, you’ll find the path to the famous torii tunnel (marked as the 1000 Gates Tunnel on my map). The gates are packed tightly together, creating a fun and colourful visual effect. This is the most popular Fushimi Inari photo spot, and it’s where you’ll see most of the tour groups and photo-seekers gathering. It can get very crowded with tourists taking photos.
If you are planning on doing the Fushimi Inari hike, I highly recommend that you resist the urge to stop here — there are plenty of torii gate tunnels higher up on the mountain that will be much less crowded! The majority of visitors will not bother heading higher up the mountain, which is why you should definitely continue further along the path — the higher you go, the more peaceful it becomes.
🌲 If you’ll be visiting during the day but want to avoid the crowds, a 1PM Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour takes you off the main route and onto real forest trails. You’ll visit bamboo groves, hidden shrines, and forested slopes to the summit, then enter the main torii trail from above — perfect for that dramatic photo finish.
Stage 2: Climbing the mountain
As you continue uphill, the crowds thin out and the mood becomes more peaceful. The rows of torii gates will continue as you head up the mountainside.
About 30–40 minutes into the walk you’ll reach the Yotsutsuji Intersection, which is a wide clearing with views over Kyoto. There are a few vending machines here and benches if you want to rest for a while or stop for a snack.
Some of the people on the trail will turn back here for a shorter version of the hike, but I recommend continuing. The upper loop is even more lovely and takes you through a tranquil forest.
Stage 3: The upper shrine loop
Beyond Yotsutsuji, the trail becomes even more quiet. We really enjoyed the stunning upper area of the Kyoto torii gate trail. The forest thickens, the gates become more spaced out. Here, the hike forms a loop that leads to the summit and back. This is the spiritual heart of Mount Inari. There’s no grand temple at the top — just peace, trees, and sacred spaces that feel ancient and untouched.
Along this section, you’ll pass several sub-shrines and miniature altars, often decorated with tiny torii, stone fox statues, and offerings left by pilgrims.
In Shinto tradition, foxes (kitsune) are considered the sacred messengers of Inari — the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, prosperity, and business. Foxes are not directly worshipped, but they’re meant to link humans to the kami (god).
Fushimi Inari is the head Inari shrine of Japan, which is why you’ll find fox statues everywhere along the trail. They’re often adorned with red votive bibs (yodarekake), which are thought to be protective offerings from worshippers.
Stage 4: Descend along quiet trails
The descent winds back down through more torii-covered paths, passing a few rustic tea houses and small stands selling drinks and traditional snacks like inari sushi (tofu pouches filled with rice, named after the shrine’s deity).
Eventually, you’ll reconnect with the main trail and make your way back to the main shrine complex where you started. On my map I’ve marked an alternate route. This path has more shrines to discover and will have significantly less tourists on it, but it also has fewer torii gates, so it’s your choice as to which way you head back to the train station.
Visiting Fushimi Inari at night
I went during the day, but I’ve heard that evening is a magical time to visit the shrine, especially if you’re looking to escape the daytime heat and experience the shrine by lantern light.
🌙 On a 6PM Fushimi Inari Night Walking Tour, you’ll walk through the illuminated gates, guided by an expert who shares the history and legends of the shrine. This tour doesn’t go all the way to the summit, but you’ll still get to experience the lower areas of the beautifully photogenic shrine in the evening light.
Essential tips for visiting Fushimi Inari in Kyoto:
- Best time to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine: Early morning before 9AM or around sunset
- Length of trail: 4km loop; ~1.5–2 hours
- Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes — there are many steps
- Amenities: Vending machines and toilets at Yotsutsuji and the base
- Photography: Best spots are higher up the trail, away from the main gate
- Food: Try inari sushi or local snacks at the base after your hike
Leave a Reply