How To Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha Without The Crowds

Like spicy sauces, crowds are my nemesis! I often feel overwhelmed when I can’t even move along normally down the street and find myself stuck behind a line of people, as if I were in a big traffic jam, except that I’m not in a car and the people in front of me don’t even seem to notice me since they’re at least two heads taller than me!

Which makes visiting very popular attractions a bit tricky for me, and even though I’m not always attracted to them, sometimes, like everyone else, I want to see what all the big hype’s about or if a place is really as breathtaking as everyone says.

So, despite my aversion (maybe the word is too strong), or rather my dislike of crowds, here’s how I visited Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine without having to elbow my way through and feel oppressed by the multitude of people. Oh, and as a bonus, you’ll also be able to admire the place in a special atmosphere!

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Fushimi Inari Taisha in a few words

Located in the Fushimi district of Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is probably one of the most popular shrines in all of Japan, not only because of its beauty or the millions of visitors it attracts each year, but also because of its significant history and the fact that it’s the main Inari shrine.

Established more than a thousand years ago (711 AD), the shrine is also famous for its 10,000 vermilion torii gates located along the mountain and for the many festivals and rituals that take place there throughout the year.

As each shrine has one or more deities, Inari Okami, who is worshipped at Fushimi Inari Taisha, is known as a deity who protects all the people, whether you’re looking for prosperity, safety in your home…

And let’s not forget that the shrine actually sits at the foot of the sacred mountain: Inariyama (233m), where the forest path will guide you through holy sites of former shrines, torii gates, as well as smaller shrines before leading you to the top of the mountain.

If you’re interested in the shrine’s history and would like to learn more about its seasonal events, don’t hesitate to check out the official website (available in several languages).

A simple tip for visiting the shrine without the crowds

Now here’s how I avoided sharing my visit to this magnificent site with hundreds of people: simply by visiting after sunset! There’s no big secret or special hack, I just decided to choose a time when people were most likely having dinner and went there an hour after sunset.

If you’ve seen videos or pictures of Fushimi Inari Shrine on the web or social media, you’ve probably also read that you have to get up super early, around 5 a.m., or go there super late, around 11 p.m., to have the place basically to yourself.

But since I’m not really an early riser (except when I go hiking, scuba diving…) and I didn’t want to lose hours of sleep after already walking all day and being exhausted, I chose to go around 6.30 p.m. (during fall season).

And here I was, surrounded by a handful of people (like 10) and I didn’t have to climb all the way up to snap beautiful pictures without people queuing or posing.

Plus, let me tell you that Fushimi Inari Taisha is sumptous during the day, no doubt, but at night there’s something about the quiet atmosphere, holy shrines, and the walk through the dimly lit setting that just gives the entire shrine a magical, and sometimes eerie, vibe that you probably won’t get during the day.

How to get to Fushimi Inari Taisha from Kyoto

Getting there is actually pretty easy, you just have to take the Nara line (brown) and get off at Inari station. Then you won’t have to worry about getting lost, because as soon as you get off the train, the shrine is right in front of the station.

There are even signs with arrows indicating the way and staff directing you to the shrine, just in case you don’t have Google Maps, if it’s pitch black outside, or you have a poor sense of direction (I won’t judge you, some of my friends are like that, maybe that’s why I always play the role of GPS).

In any case, getting to Fushimi Inari Taisha is very easy and free, if you don’t count the cost of the journey!

And for my fellow friends who like to walk, not that you won’t be able to get your steps in Japan, on the contrary, you can, in fact, walk to the shrine. From Kyoto station, it’s more than doable and should only take you about 40 minutes.

How to get to Fushimi Inari Taisha from anywhere else in Japan

If you’re not staying in Kyoto, know that trains (shinkansens) are efficient and pretty fast in Japan. Whether you’re in Tokyo, Osaka, or other cities, you’ll be there in a few hours.

But for my friends on a budget, there’s a cheaper alternative: the bus. Yes, it will probably take you twice as long, but it’s often half the price, if not less. So if you’re not in a rush or are just on a tight budget, this is something to think about when planning your trip to Japan.

If you’re interested in that solution, you can visit this website for timetables, status, general information, and bookings.

It’s also worth checking flights, as domestic flights are often cheaper than trains and sometimes even include checked baggage!

Should I hike to the top of Fushimi Inari Taisha?

I can’t really answer that question for you, as it all depends on you, but you should be aware that if you decide to visit at night like I did, the path isn’t very well lit. So you should bring your own flashlight or use the one on your phone.

It’s a 4km hike that should take you about 3 hours and is considered fairly easy if you take your time.

But if you don’t climb to the top, it’s no big deal, not everyone does, as most people spend about 1 or 2 hours here, admiring the different shrines and torii gates.

There’s also the fact that taking pictures at night is more difficult, especially if you don’t have the right gear, and you’ll need to be more patient to avoid blurry photos.

I personally spent quite a decent amount of time there and didn’t end up reaching the summit as the path was really dark and I didn’t want to get back to the city during the witching hour. Plus, to be honest, I was starting to get pretty hungry!

So, if you have the time, the equipment, and the will, definitely go to the top. Otherwise, no worries, just enjoy the path and the sights for as long as you like.

Some tips for visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha

While there’s no specific dress code for visiting shrines in Japan, as it’s a place of worship, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Dress appropriately

As I said, there’s no defined dress code, but since it’s a shrine and you should respect the place, you should still avoid see-through clothes, miniskirts, or any clothes showing too much skin.

2. Keep to the sides

As soon as you approach the shrine, remember to keep to the sides and not walk in the middle of the path, as this is reserved for the deities.

3. Follow the correct procedure

If there’s an offering hall and you wish to pray, proceed as follows: gently throw a coin into the offering box (usually 5 yen, as it’s supposed to be a symbol of good luck), bow twice, clap your hands twice, pray, and bow again (once).

4. Watch out for the no picture signs

Usually, you can take photos of pretty much everything in the shrines, but sometimes, more specifically inside the buildings, you’ll see a sign indicating that photography is prohibited. Please respect this!

Tours to consider to get more out of Fushimi Inari Taisha

If you’d like to learn more while climbing up Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, or if you just want to share the experience with other people and meet fellow travelers, here are two tours that could interest you on Klook:

Complimentary audio guide to the shrine

Kimono forest experience and day tour of Kyoto

Budget and comfortable stays in Kyoto

Looking for budget-friendly places where you can get a good night’s sleep, that are clean, well-located and equipped with great facilities? I’ve got you covered!

Shijo Guesthouse HIVE: less than 10 minutes by subway from Kyoto station, close to Nishiki Market, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, and other attractions, this guesthouse also offers a comfortable stay for all travelers thanks to its convenient facilities. Not to mention the lounge space, ideal for digital nomads!

Woman Only Guesthouse Nanohana: and for my solo female travelers who feel more comfortable among other women, here’s a great alternative, located in the same district as the previous one, with helpful staff and a foot massager as a bonus, which will be very useful after a full day of walking and sightseeing in Kyoto.

Finally, here are a few pictures of the magnificent Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine:

I hope this post will help you consider another way to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine if, like me, you dread crowds a little.

And although visiting at night has a unique charm and atmosphere that will probably leave you speechless, I’d say that Fushimi Inari Taisha is worth a visit even if you’re not a night owl, as the shrine is a one of a kind place that will captivate you by its serenity, beauty, and spirituality.

Want to visit an underrated large city? Welcome to Fukuoka with this 3-day itinerary!