A Hike of 10,000 Torii Gates: Kyoto’s Fushimi-Inari-Taisha

Thousands of vermilion Torii gates blazing in the August sun which straddle a network of trails behind its main shrines. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. I was fortunate to visit on a steamy August day…

A torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the ordinary to the sacred, and a spot where deities are welcomed and thought to travel through.

Dedicated to Inari, the deity of a good harvest and success in business, Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head of all of Japan’s Inari shrines. The seemingly endless path of vibrant orange torii gates that line the approach to Mt. Inari makes for an impressive setting and is one of the most famous images of Japan.

Behind stands the shrine’s main hall (honden) where all visitors are encouraged to pay respect to the resident deity by making a small offering.

At the very back of the shrine’s main grounds is the entrance to the torii gate-covered hiking trail, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii (“thousands of torii gates”).

The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies with the name and the date inscribed on the back of each gate. Donations start around 400,000 yen for a smaller gate ($3k) and increase to over one million yen ($7K) for a large gate.

Worshipers have donated torii gates to express prayers and appreciation since the Edo period dating from the 15th century.

Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Throughout Japan’s history control of the rice crop became a political function, confirming the importance of rice in society. Rice determined wealth through the use of a “sho,” a measure of rice and was an instrument of trade, functioning as hard currency. Rice measured the wealth of the daimyo (lord) and provided payment for samurai (warriors).

Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers and there are many statues scattered across the shrine grounds.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is a beautiful place to visit while in Kyoto. In its 1300 year existence the Japanese people have gathered here to pray for bountiful harvests, business prosperity, the safety of their home and family and the fulfillment many wishes.

This reverence accompanied my stroll through the thousands of beautiful vermilion gates and as I paused at many shrines to offer my prayers.