Sightseeing courses and spots in Kyoto we recommend starting from Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine!

Fushimi Inari Taisha, affectionately known as "Inari-san,"
is the head shrine of about 30,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan.
It is said to have been built in the 4th year of Wado (711), which is older than the Heian capital transfer.

"Senbon-torii" literally means a thousand of torii. It is a tunnel of torii gates and
the most popular attraction of Fushimiinari Shrine.
It is one of the must-see sights at least once!
The sight of a row of vermilion-lacquered torii gates is a masterpiece!
It is said people dedicated torii gate since Edo period, hoping their wish「passes」
or as a thank you when it「passed」.
Considering 1,300-years of history, it still feels like a new thing.

Cute omikuji (fortune slip) ♡ Fox wearing ear of rice pattern

If you want to take pictures of cute scenery in Kyoto,『Araki Shrine』is the place to go. 
Araki shrine is located on Mt. Inari, where the Fushimiinari shrine is. It takes about 5 minutes if you take the path to the shrine on the left of the main building of shrine.
 
It has long been known for bringing good luck, job opportunities, employment, and various other relationships to people.f
It is not a well-known tourist spot, but a cute shrine with its fox items such as good luck charms, fortune slip and doll.

Fushimiinari Kuchiire Doll

It is a relatively small shrine making it a great spot to take nice and private pictures.
Fox dolls come as a set of three. It is said that it is good to come back to thank you when your wish is granted.
Try to make a wish on the fox and come back again!

Visitors to Tofukuji Temple will first be surprised at the size of the building.
Myoshinji Temple is called sorobanzura for its outstanding management skill.
Kenninji Temple is called academic one and Tofukuji Temple is called garanzura for its huge space.
Garan is a place where monks gather and practice. Now it has come to mean a large temple or temple building.
There are 25 smaller temples in Tofukuji, including the national treasure San-mon Gate and the Hodo Hall famous for its dragon painting on the ceiling.
It is a valuable place where you can feel the culture of the Kamakura period.

Shorinji is one of the smaller temples of Tofukuji. It is located in the demon’s gate, the northeast side which is considered to be unlucky, so it is called Bishamonten, guardian of Tofukuji.
 
Starting with the Bishamonten standing statue, the most magnificent Bishamonten mandala, and a large sliding door painting of a powerful tiger are also well-known.
The statue of Kichizosonten, a god of beauty, happiness, and matchmaking is especially recommended for women, as it is said to bestow such blessings on women.
A variety of seasonal and colorful goshuin stamps and hand wash flowers that changes every week are very popular. You can also experience Zen meditation, hand-copying sutra and tracing a Buddhist image.

Flowers of water basin that changes every week

～Recommended route around Fushimi Inari Shrine～
 
Fushimi Inari Shrine
⇓
🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx. ２minutes（approx. 120ｍ）
⇓
Senbontorii
⇓
  🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx. ２０minutes（approx.１kｍ）
⇓
Arakijinja Shrine
⇓
   🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx.１０minutes（approx. 800ｍ）
⇓
JR Inari Station
⇓
🚃  every 15 minutes   one station away （approx. 2minutes）
⇓
JR Tofukuji Station
⇓
  🚶🏻‍♀️ walk　approx. ６minutes（approx. 450ｍ）
⇓
Tofukuji Temple
⇓
  🚶🏻‍♀️ walk　approx. 3minutes（approx. 220ｍ）
⇓
Shorinji Temple

Byodoin Temple, one of the World Heritage sites is said to have been built to recreate the Pure Land of Paradise. It is a rare temple that has existed since the Heian period.
The image of "houodo" is depicted on the 10-yen coin.
Houodo of Byodoin temple is actually very focused on its appearance. Built on the middle island of a pond, the reflection creates a fantastic view on a clear day. You can also walk around the pond to enjoy the sight of hondo that you have never seen before.

Ujigami Shrine is revered as a shrine dedicated to a deity who protects Byodoin Temple.
It is also famous as a World Heritage site. 
It is said to have been built in 1060 during the late Heian period,
and the main hall is the oldest shrine building in Japan.
It is an important building that has remained in existence for about 1,000 years since then.
The seasonal selection of goshuin stamps,
colorful and cute bunny shaped fortune slip are also very popular.

～Recommended route in Uji～
From JR Uji Station, take a stroll along the Ajirogi Path
⇓
🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx. 10minutes （approx. 840m）
⇓
Byodoin Houodo⇓
🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx. 5minutes　　（approx. 350ｍ）
⇓
Asagiri Bridge
⇓
🚶🏻‍♀️walk　approx. ６minutes　（approx. 450ｍ）
⇓
Stroll along the Sawarabi path to Ujigami Shrine

Asagiri Bridge

Among various bridges from Byodoin Houodo to Ujigami Shrine,
Asagiri Bridge is the most recommended.
It is a 74-meter bridge over the Uji River with vivid vermilion parapets and green bridge girders.
The view from the bridge is spectacular.
You can enjoy the emotional yet gorgeous atmosphere of Uji.
After crossing the bridge, you walk along the "Sawarabi Path" to Ujigami Shrine.
Both sides of the path are lined with fresh greenery in summer and become a tunnel of beautiful autumn leaves in fall.
 

The Nonomiya Shrine, which is associated with "The Tale of Genji" stands in a small path through a bamboo grove.
It is said to be the god of marriage, childbirth, and learning.
Also, many women who wish for the fulfillment of love visit this shrine.
The black tree Torii that stands in front of the shrine is the oldest torii style in Japan, using the bark of a sawtooth oak tree without stripping it.
If you stroke the sacred stone (turtle stone), power spot of Nomiya Shrine and pray, it is believed that your wish will come true within a year.
They say pray at each shrine and stroke the turtle stone in the end is the most beneficial way of praying.

「Tenryuji」, one of the representative temples of Kyoto
is registered as a World Heritage Site.
Among them, the "Sogenchi Garden" was the first in Japan to be designated as a historic site and a special scenic spot. With cooperating the scenery of Arashiyama and Kameyama, it is a stunning garden you can feel the power of nature.
The garden of Tenryuji changes from season to season with weeping cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall. No matter how many times you visit, you will never get tired of it.

～Recommended route in Arashiyama～
Saga-Arashiyama 　JR Station
 ⇓
 🚶‍♀️ walk about 10 minutes (about 750m)
⇓
Nonomiya Shrine
⇓ Walk along the path of bamboo grove
🚶‍♀️ about 10 minutes by walk (about 600m)
⇓
Tenryuji Temple
⇓
🚶‍♀️ walk about 2 minutes (about 200m)
⇓
 Togetsukyo Bridge

Nonomiya Shrine is on a pathway of a bamboo grove, making you want to stop by for a stroll.
You can also enjoy shopping, eating, and relaxing in the park near the Togetsukyo Bridge.
These are the recommended sightseeing courses and spots in Kyoto starting from Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Please check this course when you visit Kyoto. We hope you are satisfied and have a lot of fun.
For a unique memory of Kyoto, why not wear a kimono at <Rental Kimono Okamoto> and enjoy a stroll around Kyoto starting from Fushimi Inari Shrine?

【Author of this article】
Rental Kimono Okamoto    Fushimi Inari Store
Rental Kimono Okamoto Fushimi Inari Store
45-1 Fukakusa Inari Nakano-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-0807, Japan
Phone: 075-634-8900
Website: https//:www.okamoto-kimono-en.com/
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