✦ Fushimi Inari Taisha - Stroll the path of a thousand torii gates
13 minutes by train from Kyoto Station (direct on the Nara Line) - ¥150 - directions
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a renowned Shinto shrine in Kyoto, famous for its thousands of vibrant torii gates that form winding pathways on the sacred Mount Inari. The shrine is dedicated to Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of rice, fertility, prosperity, and business. Inari is often depicted as a fox, believed to be the messenger of the deity. Worshipers visit the shrine to seek blessings for their endeavors and make offerings, including fox-shaped ema (prayer plaques). The vibrant orange torii gates symbolize prosperity and have become an iconic sight in Kyoto, attracting both locals and tourists.
Duration: To the peak and back is roughly 2 - 3 hours (We recommend a shorter route, see Travel Tip’s Below)
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Inari Station - Enter the Torii Trail - Kumataka Shrine - Mitsutsuji - Surehiro Daijin - Inari Station (Roughly 40 minute loop)
As the entire hike is roughly a 2 - 3 hour undertaking, I recommend shortening your hike to this lower loop. You’ll get to see all the highlights, get high enough on the trail to lose the crowds and discover some unique and ancient parts of Fushimi Inari Shrine, as well as some beautiful spots to grab a bite to eat, but not use too much of your day.
📷 A photography note: The torii gates are the most densely packed together (and most esthetic for photographs) the lower you are on the trail, so if you’re looking to stop for a photograph, I recommend doing so early on, particularly where the trail splits into two side-by-side trails if it’s not too busy. -
Kyoto is such a popular destination that the tourist highlights are BUSTLING no-matter what day of the week! But luckily, Japanese locals are notoriously late risers, and many shops don’t open until 10:00am ~ 11:00am, which means that typically, tourists and locals alike aren’t out and about in the early hours of the morning. For this reason, we recommend arriving to Fushimi Inari between 7:00am ~ 8:00am to beat the crowds! Fushimi Inari is among the most famous of Kyoto’s tourist attractions, so even though the weekend is over, it will get crowded.
Suehiro Daijin - The frog shrine
Fushimi Inari is home to many subsidiary shrines, and one you can’t miss as a tourist, is Suehiro Daijin. In Japanese, ‘kaeru’ means both ‘frog’, and ‘to return’. For this reason, frogs are considered a symbol of prosperity and can also ensure your safe return from your travels. at Suehiro Daijin, visitors can place their coin offerings straight into the frogs mouth and pray for the return of money, and safe return from their trip.
🍴 Amazake Suetomi-Tei
directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 7:30pm
Closed: No closures[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly]
This traditional Japanese teahouse is known for serving amazake, a sweet, low-alcohol rice drink. Amazake is made by fermenting rice with koji, a type of mold. It's often consumed during the winter months as a warm and comforting beverage. Suetomi-Tei offers a serene ambiance to enjoy this ancient Japanese treat.
UJI
29 minutes by train from Inari Station (direct on the Nara line) - ¥240 - directions
Uji, a serene town in Kyoto Prefecture renowned for its lush tea fields, where some of Japan's finest green tea, particularly matcha, is cultivated, Uji boasts cultural treasures like the UNESCO-listed Byodo-in Temple, famous for its Phoenix Hall, an architectural masterpiece.
✦ 🍴 Sabo Kunugi - Japanese Cuisine
350m / 5 minutes on foot from Uji Station - directions
Open 11:00am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: Tuesdays
[vegetarian friendly] [vegan friendly]
Sabo Kunuji is a renowned restaurant known for its exquisite tea-themed cuisine and gorgeous views of the river. Set in the heart of Japan's green tea capital, it offers a unique dining experience where matcha and tea-infused dishes take center stage.
On a personal note, I highly recommend taking the time to stop by Sabo Kunugi for lunch, our entire family agreed that it’s the best food we’ve eaten in Japan, full stop.
✦ Fukujuen - Take part in the creation of the famous Uji Tea
230m / 3 minutes on foot from Sabo Kunugi - directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: Tuesdays
Fukujuen Uji Tea Factory in Kyoto offers immersive experiences for tea enthusiasts. Visitors can participate in Matcha making, learning the art of whisking this fine powdered green tea. Additionally, they can engage in Hojicha roasting sessions and explore the craft of pottery and traditional tea tool making, providing an authentic journey into the world of Japanese tea culture.
Matcha Grinding
Duration: Roughly 40 minutes
Cost: ¥1,650
✦ Byodo-in Temple and Museum - Explore the temple on the 10 yen coin
450m / 7 minutes on foot from Fukujuen - directions
Open: 8:30am ~ 5:30pm
Closed: Sabo Toka (tea room) Closed Tuesdays
Byodo-in Temple, located in Uji, near Kyoto, is a UNESCO World Heritage site of great cultural significance. This iconic temple is renowned for its stunning Phoenix Hall, an architectural masterpiece that can be found on the 10 yen coin, a symbol of Japanese aesthetic beauty. The temple was originally constructed in the 11th century and is a prime example of Heian period architecture.
Cost: Grounds Entry Adult ¥700 - Child ¥400 / Interior Entry ¥300