Fushimi Inari Taisha
Phone: ☎ +81-075-641-7331
About
Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社), (Keihan Main Line train to Fushimi-Inari Station or JR Nara Line to Inari Station), ☎ +81-075-641-7331, [1]. Another of Kyoto's often-overlooked jewels, located just south of Higashiyama in the Fushimi area. Dedicated to Inari, the Japanese fox goddess, Fushimi-Inari-taisha is the head shrine (taisha) for 40,000 Inari shrines across Japan. Stretching 230 meters up the hill behind it are hundreds of bright red torii (gates). A visitor could easily spend several hours walking up the hillside, taking in the beautiful views of the city of Kyoto and walking through the torii, which appear luminescent in the late afternoon sun. Countless stone foxes, also referred to as Inari, are also dotted along the path. Watch your fingers as you go - the fox spirits are said to be able to possess people by slipping through their fingernails. Admission is free. (34.967222,135.772778)