Located in Kyoto’s Fushimi ward, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is the head shrine among a total of 3,000 “Inari-san” shrines within the country. With the head shrine at its foot, the whole of Mt. Inari is considered a sacred area. For the first visit of New Year, Fushimi Inari Shrine attracts the most worshipers in the Kinki region. Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto was chosen No. 2 in the “List of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan for foreign tourists” section of Trip Advisor in 2013 and overcame the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in 2014.
The shrine is more popular among foreign tourists than Japanese tourists on working days and more foreigners climb Mt. Inari after nightfall. Although lighting is installed near the main hall, and street lights are set up till the rear shrine, you will need a flashlight if you advance beyond this point.
