This is Letters from Japan. Today, I’m at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Southern Kyoto, at the western foot of Mt. Inari.
There are over 30,000 Inari Shrines throughout Japan.
Fushimi Inari is the head shrine and is the primary place of worship for Inari Okami,
the guardian god of rice and prosperity.
As you explore the shrine and wander through the grounds, you might notice several fox
statues standing like guardians to the Shrine’s facilities.
The Fox is said to be a spirit servant to Inari Okami and is able to communicate our
wishes to her.
Fushimi Inari is perhaps most known for the thousands of Torii Gates that the line the
path up Inari Mountain.
These gates have been featured in several Hollywood films, and images of them seem to
don the cover of countless guide books.
There are over 10,000 toriis that have been contributed by worshipers, businesses, and
individuals throughout Japan.
The function of a torii gate is to mark the entrance to an area that is sacred; however,
the significance of the these in particular suggests that they are the gateway through
which dreams will come true.
The torii gates as well as the Shrine buildings are all painted in the same vermillion orange.
Not only is vermillion the color that expresses Inari Okami’s power, it has, for centuries,
been used to symbolize the life force of humanity.
If you plan to hike all the way to the top of Mt. Inari, it’ll take about 2 to 3 hours.
Along the way are several places to rest, buy a drink and even have lunch, so you won’t
need much else beyond a pair of comfortable shoes and a camera.
So how do you get there: If you’re coming from Osaka, you’ll probably
want to take the Keihan line and get off at Fushimi Inari Station. From here, it’s just
a 10 minute walk across the tracks and up the side entrance of the shrine.
The good thing about this route is that you can stop off along the way and fill up on
some of the delicious street food, just before your long hike up the mountain.
If you’re coming from Kyoto, you’ll want to take the JR Train to Inari Station. This
is just a mere two stops away from Kyoto Station.
The good thing about this route is that, when you leave the station, you’ll immediately
exit out onto the main entrance of the shrine.
For more information, check down in the description. I’ll post some links that’ll help you
plan your visit. Also, if you enjoyed this video, please subscribe. I post videos like
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Thanks for watching.