Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha, founded in 711, is the head of all Inari shrines in Japan, dedicated to the Shinto deity of rice and prosperity. Its roughly 10,000 vermillion torii gates form a continuous tunnel stretching 4 kilometers up Mt. Inari, passing smaller shrines and rest stops as the path climbs toward the summit. Fox statues appear throughout the grounds, considered messengers of the Inari deity. The full hike to the top takes about 2 to 3 hours and opens views across Kyoto. The shrine runs 24 hours, and visiting before 7am or after dark, when lanterns light the gates, means significantly fewer people and a completely different atmosphere.