Source: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is to be one of the most incredible visits in Kyoto and is the head of all 40,000 ‘Inari’ shrines in Japan; Inari being the God of rice, sake and prosperity. Fushimi Inari-taisha is located on Mt. Inari, and refers to a large area with gates, shrines and thousands of tori. A round-trip tour of the entire sacred area is 4km long, making it a leisurely 2-hour hike.
At the bottom of the hill stands the main gate ’romon’ (楼門), built in 1589. This is the largest Shrine gate known to ever exist. Romon leads you to the main shrine, ‘honden’ (本殿), which is registered as Japan’s Important Cultural Property.
Source: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
All around Fushimi Inari-taisha there are stone fox statues carrying all kinds of objects such as keys and jewels. The foxes are an essential part of Inari shrines as they are considered to be Inari’s messengers, and are traditionally treated as sacred figures.
Source: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
The main attraction, however, belongs to the path lined with thousands of vermilion torii (鳥居 / shrine gates). Including the smaller structures, it is said that approximately 10,000 gates wind through the hills around the Great Shrine. The path of toriis will lead you to the ‘Okusha Hohaijo’ (奥社法奉拝所); a place of worship at the inner shrine were you will find many ema (絵馬) shaped as white faced foxes. For 500JPY, you can write your wish on one to hang at the shrine. 
Source: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
While you take a walk through this mysterious place, shrines and tea houses are found along the way; perfect for a short break and time to appreciate the seasonally changing scenery. Here’s our favorite places.
Unchanging taste for 80 years! Hogyokudo is famous for making simple rice crackers using Kyoto’s white miso, flour, white sugar and sesame. Handmade everyday, more than 1,000 Kitsune Senbei (fox-shaped rice crackers) are sold on a daily basis. Great to have fresh, or taken home for a souvenir.
Source: Inari Village
Established in 1592, Nezameya is one of the best local restaurants near Fushimi Inari-taisha. Famous for serving the unusual roasted sparrows and quails starting from 900JPY, they also offer Kyoto cuisine such as unagi-don, inari sushi, udon, and soba.
Source: Nezameya homesite
5 minutes by foot from the Keisei Fushimi Inari Station stands Kendonya - named by the owner’s wish that ‘udons are continuously made with a humble spirit’. Handmade udons are prepared with an original blend of flour, and formed into thick elastic noodles. They also serve donburi and set meals, and seasonal dishes. A la carte dishes start from 670JPY, and set meals start from 830JPY.
Source: Kendonya Homesite
Akichi is a unique Kaiseki cafe with an antique interior design with many frog decorations. Their Kaiseki course (2,100JPY) changes on a monthly basis, which is best accompanied by their Japanese desserts such as their matcha petit donuts (300JPY). Reservations are essential for those who wish to eat lunch, as it gets very crowded!
Source: cafe-akichi
A café near Fushimi Inari Shrine, established in 2016. Vermillion is a coffee shop that offers freshly ground coffee made from beans roasted locally in Kyoto. We recommend taking a balcony seat while you enjoy some coffee (400JPY) with something sweet like the Matcha Ganache cake (650JPY).
Source: Vermillion cafe