Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine, Senbon Torii

The information about Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine is presented here. Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine has 10,000 torii gates on its grounds and on Mt. Inari-yama, in addition to Senbon Torii Gates. The dedication of the torii gate means “Wish Fulfilled” and “Thank You for Fulfilling Your Wish”. The dedication of torii gates began in the Edo period (1603-1867) and is said to have flourished thereafter. The red (vermilion) color of the torii gate is said to represent the power of Inari-no-Okami (Inari God), and fertility. Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine is worshipped as the god of prosperity and good harvests.

• Shrine Location Map ＆ Directions
• Shrine History
• Shrine Highlights

【Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 68 Yabunouchi-cho, Fukakusa Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access (How to get there): JR Inari Station (about 3 minutes on foot), Keihan Fushimiinari Station (about 5 minutes on foot), Inaritaisha-mae (about 7 minutes on foot)

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is located in the south-southeast from Kyoto Station and is about 3.2 kilometers away in a straight line. The closest stations to Fushimi Inari Taisha are Inari Station on the JR Nara Line and Fushimi Inari Station on the Keihan Main Line. Inari Station on the JR Nara Line is the 2nd station when you get on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station. The Keihan Main Line is recommended when going to the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine from Kawaramachi, Gion, etc.

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 24 hours (You can visit the temple at night, but please visit quietly.)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Free

【Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine History】

On the 3 peaks of Mt. Inari-yama (稲荷山), where Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) was once enshrined, had 3 circular burial mounds built during Kofun period. According to the shrine legend, Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine was founded on the first horse day of February 711, when Hata-no-Irogu (Hata-no-Iroko) received an imperial order to enshrine Inari-no-Okami (Inari God) on the flats of the 3 peaks of Mt. Inari-yama. It is said that Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was moved from Mt. Inari-yama to its present location in 816 at the request of Kobo-daishi Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. In 823, Kobo-daishi Kukai was given To-ji Temple by the 52nd Emperor Saga, and it is said that Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine became the guardian shrine of To-ji Temple. In 827, the 53rd Emperor Junwa granted Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine the rank of Shinkai (the divine rank). Emperor Junwa’s health was not good, and when fortune telling was performed, it was said that the tree of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was cut down for the construction of Gojyu-no-tou (five-story pagoda) of To-ji Temple, and Ohnakatomi-no-Oyoshi was dispatched and conferred the rank of Shinkai. It is said that in 852, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was revered by the imperial court as the three shrines (Kamigamo Shrine, Shimogamo Shrine, and Matsuo Taisha Shrine) of Yamashiro (Kyoto). It is said that Inari-sai (Inari Festival) began during the Jougan period (859-877), and in 942, the shrine was elevated to the highest rank of Shinkai (the divine rank). It is said that the 71st Emperor Go-Sanjo first visited to Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine in 1072, and in 1081, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was listed as one of the top seven shrines in the 22-shrine system. It is said that Minamoto no Yoritomo, the 1st shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, prayed for good fortune during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is said that Ashikaga Takauji, the 1st shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, prayed for good fortune during the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392). According to the legend of Fujinomori Shrine, in 1438, Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, moved Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine from Mt. Inari-yama to the current location at the foot of the mountain by the imperial order of the 102nd Emperor Go-Hanazono. In 1468, the Onin War (Onin-no-Ran) destroyed many of the shrine buildings of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi prayed at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine for the recovery of his mother, Ohmandokoro Tenzuin (Naka), from illness, and Ro-mon Gate was rebuilt in 1589. During the Edo period (1603-1867), Aizen-ji Temple, Joan-ji Temple, and Saiko-ji Temple were built on the grounds of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, and a syncretism between Shintoism and Buddhism was promoted. After the Meiji Restoration, Aizen-ji Temple, Joan-ji Temple, and Saiko-ji Temple were abandoned due to the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism and Haibutsu-kishaku. Fushimi Inari Taisha enshrines Inari-no-Okami (Inari God), and is considered a guardian deity of business prosperity, industrial prosperity, family safety, traffic safety, and the advancement of the arts.
*reference・・・Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine website

【Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Honden (Main shrine, 本殿, Important Cultural Property) is said to have been rebuilt in 1494 or 1499. Nai-Haiden (inner worship hall, 内拝殿) in front of the main hall was built in 1961. Honden enshrines Ukanomitama-no-Okami, Omiyanome-no-Okami,Satahiko-no-Okami, Sadahiko-no-Okami, Tanaka-no-Okami, and Shi-no-Okamii, and the five gods are also called Inari-no-Okami (Inari God).
★Senbon Torii Gates (Senbon Torii, 千本鳥居) is divided into two rows on the left and right, densely built about 70 meters long. In Senbon Torii Gates, less than 1,000 torii gates were built, about 860. The dedication of torii gates began in the Edo period (1603-1867) and is said to have flourished thereafter.
★Koma-Gitsune (Koma-Kitsune, Guardian Foxes, 狛狐) are enshrined instead of Koma-Inu (Guardian Dogs). Koma-Gitsune hold ears of rice, scroll, bead (hoju), and key in their mouths. The ear of rice is derived from the fact that Inari-no-Okami. is the god of agriculture. The scroll symbolizes wisdom. The bead symbolizes the spiritual virtues of Inari-no-Okami, and the key symbolizes the desire to acquire these virtues.
Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine Highlights

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Hatsuuma-taisai (Hatsuuma Grand Festival, 初午大祭) is held every year on the first horse day of February. At Hatsuuma-taisai, a lucky charm, Shirushi-no-Sugi, which is said to bring good fortune for prosperous business and family safety, is awarded. Hatsuuma-taisai has been called the first festival of early spring in Kyoto because of the large number of pilgrims who have gathered at the head of the shrine since ancient times.
★Inari-sai (Inari Festival, 稲荷祭) is held every year on a Sunday around April 20th for Shinko-sai (神幸祭), and on May 3rd for the Kankosai (還幸祭). During Shinko-sai and Kanko-sai, 5 Mikoshi (portable shrines) are parked at the Otabisho in the shrine parishioners area. At Ujiko-sai (氏子祭), 5 Mikoshi (portable shrines) parade around the parishioners area.
★Motomiya-sai (Motomiya Festival, 本宮祭) is held every year on the Sunday or national holiday immediately following the entry of Doyo. Manto-shinji is held on Yoimiya-sai, the day before Motomiya-sai, when stone lanterns built on Mt. Inari-yama and and the shrine grounds are lit and thousands of lanterns hung in the shrine grounds are lit.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around early April. Although there are not many cherry trees, Somei-Yoshino and Weeping cherry trees are planted in the shrine grounds. It is said that the sight of the cherry blossoms and Honden (Main shrine), Ge-Haiden (Outer worship hall), Ro-mon (Tower Gate), and Torii is beautiful.
★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to early December. Although there are not many maple trees, maple trees, sarusuberi, and etc are distributed in the shrine grounds. It is said that the autumn leaves and Senbon Torii Gates, Gonden, Mt. Inari-yama and the approach to the shrine are beautiful.
(The best time to view the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-641-7331

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is along the JR Nara Line to Tofuku-ji Temple. Tofuku-ji Temple is one of the most famous places in Kyoto for its autumn foliage, and is especially recommended during the autumn foliage season. There are 25 sub-temples in the area of Tofuku-ji Temple, including Funda-in Temple, Shourin-ji Temple, Reigen-in Temple, Taiko-an Temple, and Ryumin-an Temple, and a walk through them is also recommended.

【Remarks (access, parking, disclaimer, etc)】
If you plan to visit Fushimi Inari taisha Shrine, be sure to check the latest information.