Fushimi Inari Shrine

Day 13 · Inari, Kyoto Scroll down

Guarded by foxes, the messengers of Inari, we hiked the path of the thousand red torii, exploring Mount Inari and its inner shrines, unveiling their secrets and its beauty.

In some local trains there's no air conditioning but the good old fan!

In some local trains there’s no air conditioning but the good old fan!

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The temples at the base of Inari are not that different from others we've seen, as if it does't want to show what's behind it.

The temples at the base of Inari are not that different from others we’ve seen, as if it does’t want to show what’s behind it.

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We got on the Shinkansen back to Kyoto and stopped by Inari at the end of the day. It was the perfect place to relax after a day of sweating and walking. We got to see the paths of torii and climbed up the mountain until we found the various shrines.

The light of the evening made everything even more mysterious.

The light of the evening made everything even more mysterious.

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The entrance of the Senbon (thousand) Torii.

The entrance of the Senbon (thousand) Torii.

There are some very very ancient torii along the path, and few very recent ones.

There are some very very ancient torii along the path, and few very recent ones.

This sacred mountain is the most important Shinto shrine to Inari, the god of rice, and the thousands of toriis that make up the paths into the mountain and through various small shrines, are donations of individuals and companies to Inari.

 

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The names of the ones who donated the torii and the date can be read in each of them.

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In some moments, the path seems endless. s

In some moments, the path seems endless.

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There were some trees filling in for torii along the path.

There were some trees filling in for torii along the path.

As you climb up the steps, you can definitely feel something beautiful, something pure and honest, and as you reach the Yotsutsuji intersection, half way up the mountain, when the torii gates aren’t so close together anymore, there’s a beautiful view over Kyoto. It was the end of the day, with the sun setting in the horizon, and all the colours and light are dim but beautiful…and that’s when you can feel the magic of that place.

There are thousands of small shrines spread out through the mountain.

There are thousands of small shrines spread out through the mountain.

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Hundreds of tiny torii that can be bought and donated to the small shrines.

Hundreds of tiny torii that can be bought and donated to the small shrines.

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Kitsune (fox) are everywhere along the path.

Kitsune (fox) are everywhere along the path.

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Breathtaking view over Kyoto.

Breathtaking view over Kyoto.

The torii path from above.

The torii path from above.

Since we didn’t get to eat Okonomoyaki in Osaka we had it in Kyoto, at a tiny place with proper hot plates on the table to cook your own Okonomoyaki. The food was every bit as delicious as we thought it would be, and what made the experience even better was the beer and the baseball game on television that everyone seemed to be following. It was the perfect ending to a tiring day.

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