Fushimi Inari Hike: How to Plan Your Walk Up Mount Inari

We operate the Maiko & Zen Kyoto experience mentioned in this guide.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the shrine at the foot of Mount Inari, and the trails above it lead up the mountain itself. This guide helps you plan a walk up the mountain and, if you like, an onward stop at Tofuku-ji. Facts about the shrine, the temple, and the trains come from their official pages, and the rest is general planning advice.

The Shape of the Day

A day on Mount Inari has three parts: the shrine and the lower torii paths, a climb on the mountain for as long as you want, and a train ride to Tofuku-ji. Each part can be shortened or skipped, so you can build the day around your own energy.

Inariyama is a 233 m high holy mountain, one of the southernmost of the 36 Higashiyama mountains. The whole mountain is considered a precinct of the shrine, so you can turn back at any point and still have visited the shrine.

A simple order works well: arrive, walk through the shrine and the lower torii paths, climb to a point you chose in advance, come back down, and then decide whether to continue to Tofuku-ji or end the day at the shrine. If you are still deciding how many days to spend in the city, our Kyoto itinerary shows where this walk can fit.

Getting to Fushimi Inari

If you start from Kyoto Station, the shrine is right next to JR Inari Station, 2 stations and 5 minutes away on the JR Nara Line. On the Keihan Main Line, the shrine is a 5 minute walk east of Fushimi-Inari Station. By city bus, the Inari Taisha-mae stop on the Minami 5 line is a 7 minute walk away.

Walking Up Mount Inari

The trails begin among the torii at the shrine and climb the mountain. You do not need a goal at the summit, because the walk is a series of places where you can stop and turn around.

Wear shoes with good grip, carry water, and take the slopes at your own pace. Leave enough daylight for the way back down, because descending takes its own time. A small bag is easier to carry than a large one, and a light rain layer is worth having if the sky looks unsettled.

Choose your turnaround point before you start. The shrine gives no official time for the walk, so decide by your energy and the daylight you have left. There are three simple ways to set your limit:

• The Senbon Torii only. Walk the rows of torii at the foot of the mountain, then come back down.
• Up to Yotsutsuji. Keep climbing to the place called Yotsutsuji, then return the way you came.
• Over the summit. Continue to the top and walk over the peaks. Ichinomine is the highest peak of Inariyama, at 233 m.

The shrine asks visitors not to prevent worshippers from passing by taking photographs or filming on narrow paths. Step aside before you stop to take a picture, and treat the whole mountain as the shrine it is.

From Inari to Tofuku-ji

When you come down, you can continue to Tofuku-ji by train. From JR Inari Station, ride one stop back toward Kyoto to Tofukuji Station (about 2 to 3 minutes by local train). From Tofukuji Station, walk about 10 minutes to the temple. For what to see inside, read our Tofuku-ji temple guide.

Around Tofuku-ji

After the climb, Tofuku-ji is a slower stop. Stand on Tsutenkyo Bridge for the view over the Sengyokukan ravine, then sit and look at the gardens around the Hojo, which Mirei Shigemori made in 1939. The temple guide linked above describes both.

The temple does not allow re-entry, so finish everything before you leave. The temple also asks visitors not to use tripods or eat and drink on the grounds.

Add One Quiet Temple Stop

Add a quiet temple stop to your day. We operate Maiko & Zen Kyoto, a 90-minute session at Ikka-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji, where a maiko dances in the same temple hall with no stage between you, then takes time for your questions and photos. See current session times and prices.

To see how a session compares with other formats, read our guide to maiko experiences in Kyoto.

Seasons and Time of Day

From April 1 to November 13, the temple is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and ticket sales end at 4:00 pm. The gates close at 4:30 pm. Because ticket sales end at 4:00 pm in this period, set your turnaround point on the mountain with that deadline in mind.

From November 14 to December 6, the Tsutenkyo Bridge opens at 8:30 am, while the Hojo gardens open at 9:00 am. Both close at 4:00 pm, and the gates close at 4:30 pm.

From December 7 to March 31, the temple is open from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and ticket sales end at 3:30 pm. The gates close at 4:00 pm.

The autumn viewing dates and hours change every year, so check the temple's visitor page for the current schedule before you plan a trip around them. Also check the Fushimi Inari Taisha website for current conditions before you go.

Frequently asked questions