Marta and Chester's Maleficent Adventures

11/23/2024

2024-07-11 Japan – Inari-yama Ascent 232m

A mountain doesn’t need to be high to leave a lasting impression. Inari-yama, standing at just 233 meters, left an unforgettable mark on us.

Two stations south of Kyoto Station lies the Shinto shrine, Fushimi Inari, dedicated to Kami Inari, the God of Rice. The shrine’s origins trace back to ancient times, even before the capital moved from Nara to Kyoto in 794. Zosia Zgolak and I were eager to experience the renowned Fushimi Inari Shrine, its messenger fox statues, and the thousands of iconic vermillion torii gates.

Wishes to the deities will be carried by Foxes, Inari’s messengers

Haiden – offering hall, or hall of worship

From Kyoto, we took the earliest train on the local JR Nara Line to JR Inari Station. Rain was in the forecast, which was both good and bad. Good, because we didn’t expect large crowds; bad, because… well, because it gets wet when it rains.

The hike began directly from JR Inari Station, where a large vermillion (orange) torii gate marked the start. The trail led us to the shrine (above) and then into the forested slopes of sacred Mount Inari, which belongs to the shrine grounds.

The large vermillion (orange) torii gate was impossible to miss.

The Rōmon Gate, over 400 years old, stands as an impressive entrance. After passing through it, you’ll find the worship hall.

Ema, or wooden plaques for writing wishes to the kami Inari, are uniquely shaped like foxes (kitsune), the supernatural foxes that serve as Inari’s messengers.

Ema, or wooden plaques for writing wishes to the kami Inari, are shaped like miniature torii gates, reflecting the shrine’s iconic symbol.

Even with its stunning architecture, it wasn’t the shrine itself that inspired us the most—it was what lay beyond it: thousands of torii gates. They stretch endlessly, and just when you think they’ll stop, more beautiful gates appear, lining the trail like a vibrant tunnel. Each torii is a donation from individuals or companies. Walking beneath them is a truly unforgettable experience. Photos simply can’t capture the magic of strolling under these iconic gates.

Want to donate a torii gate? It’s possible! According to Japan-guide.com, “you will find the donor’s name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate.” Unfortunately, we didn’t know this at the time, so we didn’t check. They also mention that “the donation amount starts around 400,000 yen (about $3,600 CAD in 2024) for a smaller gate and can exceed one million yen (around $9,000 CAD) for a large gate.”

The summit of Inari-yama, at 233 meters, is adorned with torii gates and numerous smaller shrines, many of which feature stacks of miniature torii gates left as offerings.