Kyoto Japan | Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

The Fushimi-Inari Taisha jinja (shrine) in the south-eastern suburbs of Fushimi-ku, Kyoto is one of most recognizable icons of Japan, and the 4km long corridor of reddish-orange gates called torii that snake their way up Inari Mountain were featured in the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha.

Fushimi-Inari is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirit Inari, who's name was derived from ine-nari, or "growing rice" or "grain." The Fushimi-Inari shrine is the oldest and most prominent Inari shrine, and the founding of the shrine in 711 AD coincides with the earliest recorded worship of the spirit Inari.

During the 9th century, the main Inari shrine was moved to its present location further down the mountain by a Hieian Buddhist leader named Kukai.

Fushimi Inari Shrine now has five separate shrines spread across the entire area. The shrine's Sakura-mon, or "cherry blossom gate" main torii was built by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1500s.

The entrance to a traditional Inari shrine will typically be through one or more vermilion torii gates. The 4 kilometer-long tunnel of thousands of torii gates at Fushimi-Inari were donated by families individuals, or Japanese businesses, with the donor's name being inscribed on the back of each torii (below).

Inari is believed to be a protector of rice and grain crops which are the main staple of Japan. There are estimated to be some 40,000 Inari shrines in Japan, and many castles throughout the country also contain Inari shrines.

Inari's Collective Forms

The spirit Inari is an androgynous being that may be depicted as either male or female. Incarnations of Inari can be a young female goddess of food, or an old man carrying rice.

The spirit Inari is worshiped as a collection of either three deities which is known as Inari sanza, or as five kami, which is known as Inari goza. Each of these individual deities or 'kami' have their own unique form.

One of the more significant variations of the Inari form is the fox, which is called kitsune in Japanese. Many of the menacing kitsune statues have a symbolic key to a rice granary held in the mouth (above, right), and most of the statues are adorned with a red votive bib called a yodarekake.

The ten'no no yodarekake, or "drooling bib for the Emperor" was a scarf worn inside the kimono, but the 'yodare-kake' or 'suga' used at Inari probably symbolizes a Samurai throat protector of lamellar armor, scale plates or chain mail.

Inari's female form is often associated with Dakiniten, who is portrayed as a female bodhisattva (an enlightened being who forgoes nirvana in order to save others) riding a flying white fox.

Mant Shinto shrines throughout Japan are staffed with full-time resident priests who live adjacent to the shrine. Offerings of tea, incense, and candles are administered throughout the day by the resident priests.

Fushimi-Inari's main shrine is located at the top of the hill, surrounded by dense bamboo forest. This location offers a serene and picturesque place for people to worship.

Fushimi-Inari is a beautiful place, but the best time to visit this, or any shrine in Kyoto is early in the morning, to beat the crowds. With its 4 kilometer narrow corridor of torii gates, the crowds can create a sense of claustrophobia.

Getting There

From downtown Kyoto, Fushimi-Inari is a 5 minute train ride on the Nara Line. Get off at the JR 'Inari Station' and the shrine's Sakura-mon gate is another 5 minute walk eastward.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Website