Fushimi-Inari Shrine is famous for its red gates tunnel. You might be familiar with those scenes from the film, "Sayuri." The film was shot in this right spot! You will literary see thousands of red gates(Torii) here.
Access: From Kyoto sta., take JR-Nara line to Inari sta. It only take 10mins(2 stops away from Kyoto sta.) Please note that make sure you will take "local" train, otherwise the train won't stop at Inari station. The shrine is located in front of the station.
Fushimi-Inari shrine is like a little mountain, and you might have to climb up quite a bit of uphill. But I am sure that the view is worth climbing!
You might see not only many red gates but also these foxes. (They are not dogs, they are FOXES!) This is because foxes are the symbol of this shrine, in other words, they are animal messengers of a god. Foxes are seen as holy animals in Japan.
What's in their mouth? Most of the foxes have something in their mouth in Fushimi-Inari. Some foxes have precious stones(jem), some foxes have keys of rice-storage, and some other variations, too.
Now you might wonder why there are so many gates? Who built it? What for? Well, these gates are all offerings from ordinary people, or a company who wish their success. So you will see their names and the dates they offered at the back of the each gates.
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