I reached the top of the mountain not wearing my hiking shoes but with the determination to see what’s on top of the summit. Sometimes my curiosity puts me in trouble — hahaha! And I always have this notion every time I travel that I should do what I can do at the moment and treat every destination like it could be my last visit. Therefore, YOLO (now wasak later — heheheh!).

The hike to the summit and back takes approximately 2-3 hours at 233 meters above the sea level and guess what?! We finished it in an hour. Thanks to the mountains in Malaysia and MacRitchie Reservoir for all the hiking times. Plus we were a bit pressured to be back as fast as we can because two of our friends were waiting at the shrine grounds.

Its’ stairs all the way up covered with Torii gates in different sizes and few crooked grounds. It was tiring but very fulfilled. I can now answer anyone who will probably ask, “will it be worth the hike?”. And I think we were one of the fashionable tourists who hiked the summit and gusgusin (untidy) face when we descended. I have to remove my jacket and one layer of clothe, because I started to get sweaty halfway to the summit.

We started fabulous with nice blow-dried hair while we ended gusgusin — hahah! You will see the difference from the video I shared on my Instagram.

However, visitors are free to walk just as far as they wish before turning back.

All the photos were taken using my Samsung phone. I should bring extra battery for my camera on my next trip!

It’s so hard to take photos without being photobombed, this place is very crowded of tourists. We are at the shrine’s entrance, at our back stands the Romon Gate. When you walked past thru it is the shrine’s main building (the “Go-Honden”) and various auxiliary buildings. Including a street with different food stalls where you can also food trips.

 

My favorite hiking buddy, smiling at the Go-Honden shrine main entrance.

Torii path ascending to the mountain. The hiking trail is covered with torii gates, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii (thousands of torii gates). The torii gates along the entire trail are donated by individuals and companies. The donator’s name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate.

Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. It’s said to be dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds.

 

Top of the sacred Mount Inari. Since early Japan, Inari was seen as the patron of business, and merchants and manufacturers have traditionally worshiped Inari.

I also prayed on my own, feeling like a legit businesswoman and claiming for my successes (yes! it has to be plural 🙂 ) that are about to come. CLAIMING, CLAIMING and CLAIMING!!! Heheheh!

 

This scared water is only for the use of washing hands and rinsing mouth as part of the ritual to visit a shrine. You must use the ladle and direct touch to the water is not allowed.

 

This is Yotsutsuji intersection roughly halfway up the mountain, where you can enjoy Kyoto view from the top.

While the trail splits into a circular route to the summit. Many hikers only explore as far as here, as the trails do not offer much variation beyond this point and the gate density decreases as you walk along.

We were tempted to descend at this point but we have decided to proceed and reach the summit. We stick to our reason why we decided to hike at the first place and considering that we ate here and there so we have to shred few calories.

Speaking of eating, there are also few local shops, traditional cafes you can find along the way and houses too. And surprisingly, the well-known Japanese rice wine “Sake” is super cheap at the mountain.

 

Who needs refrigerator if natural cooling is free? Sodas soaked in pan of water. It’s super cold but since we hike and we are burning some calories we didn’t feel the coldness that much.

Travel Guide

Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station, not served by rapid trains). The shrine can also be reached in a short walk from Fushimi Inari Station along the Keihan Main Line.

The admission is FREE and they don’t closed so it’s always open.

Have you visited Fushimi Inari Shrine?

What’s you favorite tourist spot/s in Kyoto?

Share with me in the comment section below!

 

This post is brought to you by Easy Wander Travel. For travel inquiry, email easywandertravel@gmail.com