Fushimi Inari-Taisha★★★
Fushimi Inari-Taisha is Japan's most famous shrine — and the country's most visited destination. Over 10,000 vermilion Torii gates form winding tunnels up the 233-meter-high Inari Mountain. The ascent through the endless gates is surreal, meditative, and one of the most unforgettable experiences in all of Asia.
The shrine is dedicated to the Shinto god Inari — the god of rice, fertility, and business success. Each of the thousands of Torii was donated by a company or individual — the inscriptions on the back name the donor and date. A small Torii costs ¥400,000 (~€2,500), the large ones over ¥1,000,000.
The path leads over several viewpoints and intermediate shrines to the top. The most famous passage is the Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii) directly behind the main shrine — here the gates are so close together that hardly any light penetrates. The entire circuit over the summit takes 2–3 hours (4 km), but most tourists turn back after 20–30 minutes — those who continue have the upper half almost to themselves.
At the foot of the mountain stand Kitsune (fox statues) — the messengers of the god Inari. Many wear a red bib and have a key or a rice ear in their mouths. The fox masks and Inari sushi (rice filled in tofu pockets) at the stalls at the entrance are must-have souvenirs.
💡 Tipp
Come at sunrise (the shrine is open 24 hours!) — at 6 a.m. you will have the Torii tunnels almost to yourself. In the afternoon and on weekends, it is extremely crowded. The climb to the summit takes only 2 hours and becomes significantly quieter after the first 30 minutes.
