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Fushimi Inari-taisha — Head Shrine of Inari in Kyoto

Major Shinto shrine in Fushimi, Kyoto, dedicated to Inari. Renowned for thousands of vermilion torii gates, kitsune (fox) imagery, mountain trails, and a network of subordinate Inari shrines across Japan.

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 13, 2022 Last updated: May 10, 2026

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Overview

Fushimi Inari-taisha is a major Shinto shrine in the Fushimi district of Kyoto, Japan. It is the head shrine of Inari, the kami traditionally associated with rice, agriculture, industry and general prosperity. The shrine complex extends from the base of Mount Inari up its wooded slopes and functions both as a place of active worship and a popular cultural landmark.

History and significance

According to shrine traditions, an early place of worship on Mount Inari dates back to the early eighth century. Over centuries Fushimi Inari-taisha developed into the principal site for the cult of Inari and became the model for many subordinate shrines (bunsha) throughout Japan; today there are tens of thousands of Inari shrines nationwide. The shrine's long association with agriculture and commerce made it important to farmers, merchants and later businesses seeking prosperity and protection.

Architecture, torii and fox imagery

The site contains typical Shinto structures such as the honden (main hall) and haiden (offering hall), together with gates, auxiliary shrines and votive displays. Its most famous visual feature is the Senbon Torii, the dense rows of vermilion torii gates that form tunnel-like passages along the mountain paths. Individuals and companies donate many of these gates as votive offerings; donor names and dates are often inscribed on the gate columns. Stone and bronze statues of foxes (kitsune), regarded as Inari's messengers, are placed throughout the precincts and frequently hold symbolic objects such as keys or rice sheaves.

Rituals, festivals and practices

Worshippers visit to give thanks for harvests, business success and safe households. Common practices include offering rice or sake, purchasing protective charms and writing wishes on wooden plaques (ema). Visitors may also draw fortune slips (omikuji) and attach them in shrine areas. Seasonal observances linked to Inari include traditional festivals such as Hatsu-uma, associated with the first 'horse' day in the spring calendar, as well as New Year visits when crowds come to pray for the coming year.

Visiting today

Fushimi Inari-taisha is both a pilgrimage site and a major tourist attraction. A looped trail leads to the summit of Mount Inari and passes many smaller shrines; walking the full mountain route at a relaxed pace can take an hour or more. Near the main entrances the torii-lined approaches are busiest; higher on the trail the atmosphere becomes quieter and more contemplative. Practical tips often suggested by guides include arriving early for photographs of the torii tunnels, wearing comfortable shoes for the ascent, and consulting the shrine for information on ceremonies or special events.

Further information

For general background on Shinto and shrine customs, consult introductory sources on Shinto shrines. Local histories and the shrine's own publications provide more detail on Fushimi Inari-taisha's development and annual calendar; readers interested in the Fushimi area can find additional context via community and travel resources such as those about Fushimi and the city of Kyoto. For national cultural context see materials on religious practice in Japan.

Legends

The hills on which the shrine is located are said to have once belonged to a man named Kadata-ryūtoda ("Dragon Head"). After his death, he is said to have ascended to heaven. The earthly site where this ascension began is a shrine in the Fushimi Inari-Taisha and is protected by a fence.

From the beginning of historiography in Japan, the hills belonged to the powerful Hata clan. According to legend, in 711 one of the clan, a man named Hata-no-irogu (also Hata-no-chōja-irogu), once found some o-mochi (steamed rice cakes) while hunting, hung one of them on a tree and pierced it with one of his arrows. Thereupon the cake is said to have turned into a swan (hakuchō) and flown away. Since that day, the power of the rival Kada clan is said to have steadily declined.

Full of remorse, Hata-no-irogu is said to have gone in search of the swan and found it on the summit of the Sangamine peak of Mount Inari. There he then began his worship of the kami Uka-no-mitama (under the name Uka-no-mitama-no-ōkami, 宇迦之御魂大神), Saruda-hiko (under the name Sada-hiko-no-ōkami, 佐田彦大神) and Ame-no-uzume (under the name Ō-miya-no-me-no-ōkami, 大宮能売大神). This is said to have given rise to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha, which soon received imperial support. Hata-no-irogu was appointed its first chief priest. The rest of the clergy was recruited from members of the Hata and Kada clans, whose ancestors are also venerated in side shrines.

Kami and shrines

These three kami Ame-no-uzume, Saruda-hiko (also known there, among others. known by the names Ō-tsuchi-nokami, Sada-hiko, Yachimata-no-kami, Sake-no-kami, and Dōso-jin, among others) and Uka-no-mitama-no-mikoto (according to the Kojiki, a son of Susanoo and Kamu-ō-ichi-hime; according to the Nihongi, however, a son of Izanami and Izanagi) are, according to the tradition of this legend, worshipped in the Fushimi Inari-Taisha as Inari, which they together constitute. They are nevertheless worshipped in different shrines on three different hills: Ame-no-uzume on the first peak under the name Ō-miya-hime in the Minami-no-za-no-kami-no-yashiro, Saruda-hiko on the second peak under the name Ō-da-no-mikoto in the Kita-no-za-no-naka-no-yashiro, and Uka-no-mitama on the third peak in the Mannaka-shimo-no-yashiro, where the food kami Ō-ge-tsu-hime-no-kami, said to be one of the last children of Izanami and Izanagi, is also worshipped.

In 1266, two more kami were added to the shrine: Tanaka-no-ōkami (田中大神, "The Great Kami in the Midst of the Rice Field," probably just another name for Inari) and Shi-no-ōkami (四大神), who is said to have founded the legend and cult of Kadata-ryūtoda. Together with the other three, they make up the great kami Inari-go-sha-dai-myōjin or Inari-ō-kami. In 1438, a joint shrine was then dedicated to the first three kami at the foot of the mountain, and in 1821 the additional two kami were given shrines of their own.

A secondary shrine is the Go-za-aiden, a massha for the kami Nyaku-ōji (a name for Fujiwara no Uona (721-783), servant under four Tennō, from Shōmu to Kōnin). In addition, the Ise-no-ryō-gu-sha also exists, in which Amaterasu is worshipped along with Uke-mochi-no-kami (who is said to have supplied Jimmu-tennō's army with food and to have been killed by Tsuki-yomi, according to Nihonshoki).

Questions and Answers

Q: What is Fushimi Inari-taisha?

A: Fushimi Inari-taisha is a large Shinto shrine in Fushimi Kyoto, Japan.

Q: Who is Inari?

A: Inari is the rice god.

Q: Where are Inari shrines located?

A: Inari shrines are located in many parts of Japan.

Q: How many sub-shrines or bunsha are there in Japan?

A: There may be more than 32,000 sub-shrines or bunsha in Japan.

Q: What is the significance of Fushimi Inari-taisha?

A: Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of Inari, the rice god.

Q: What type of religion is Shinto?

A: Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan.

Q: What is the significance of rice in Japanese culture?

A: Rice is a staple food in Japanese cuisine and has cultural and religious significance, including associations with fertility, abundance, and the divine.