Fushimi Inari Shrine: 10,000 Torii Gates Creating a Sacred Tunnel
Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) is one of Japan's most prominent spiritual locations and possibly the most photographed shrine, known for its mesmerising tunnels of vermillion torii gates (鳥居) snaking up forested mountainsides. The shrine honours Inari Ōkami, a Shinto deity associated with rice, agriculture, and harvest. Merchants often worship Inari for economic success and prosperity. Built in 711 CE, long before Kyoto became Japan's capital, Fushimi Inari's continuing relevance arises from its combination of religious validity and aesthetic majesty.
The shrine has almost 10,000 torii gates. These characteristic red-painted wooden gates serve two functions: they mark entries to the holy domain and spiritually protect sacred area from harmful spirits. Each gate bears the donor's name on one side and the donation date on the other, preserving a historical record of centuries of dedication. During the Edo period (1603-1868), the practice of contributing torii in gratitude for answered prayers or to request blessings became popular. Surprisingly, the custom of donating enormous gates supposedly began when Mitsukoshi Department Store's owner—operator of the world's oldest department store—donated a torii, resulting in future business booms, leading other stores to follow suit. Today, fees range from modest to substantial; huge gates require gifts of more than $10,000, which businesses view as an investment in spiritual and commercial fortune.
The Senbon Torii (千本鳥居), meaning "thousand torii," remains the shrine's showpiece, producing the unique tunnel-like route around 800 gates long that forms the most iconic part. The primary path ascends the mountainside for around 4 kilometres (2.5 miles), with the summit walk taking about 2 hours through forested terrain. Most visitors spend 1-2 hours viewing the main shrine and its surrounding torii tunnels before descending. Key features include the Romon Gate (main gate), built in 1589 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to complete a vow; the Honden (main shrine), a 500-year-old national treasure; and the Okusha Shrine, which may be reached near the tunnel's conclusion.
Visitors are also drawn to Okusha Shrine's Omokaru Ishi (heavy-light stones). Visitors make quiet wishes and then attempt to raise specially marked rocks. If the stone is heavier than expected, the wish will come true; if it is lighter, it will not—visitors' perceptions revealing their underlying beliefs about wish fulfilment. Visiting before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. allows you to snap the famed tunnels with fewer crowds. The shrine receives roughly half a million people on New Year's Day alone, thus seasonal timing is critical for experiencing Fushimi Inari's spiritual essence.
