Today in Kyoto we decided to sign up for a hiking tour at Fushimi Inari, which is a famous Kyoto Shrine dedicated to Inari, the god of rice. It is considered one of the most important shrines in Japan. It's most famous for its Torii Gates which protect the kami or spirits of the place. It can be extremely crowded, so this hiking tour took us in the back way and it was a lot of fun.
We met at this Family Mart (very similar to 7 Eleven). Can't get enough of these amazing stores.
We got lucky because we were the only people on the tour. Our guide was Shiori, a Japanese college student.
Hitting the first Torii gate into the trail system there.
Smaller shrine sites.
ffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffBowing and giving a donation.
Foxes are everywhere here because they are Inari's protectors.
Little shrines everywhere.
ffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffffffffcapffffQuick trip into a bamboo forest.
Look at these two.
So many shrines.
Gates in gates.
One might think that the text written on these gates is wise words or famous people. Nope, this is the back side of the gates and different people and companies sponsor all of them. It is their names.
Gate photo.
It's getting more crowded as we head down.
We finish where most people begin. It is much more crowded. So glad we got to see it from a different perspective.
Back in town and it's Saturday. It's getting busy!
A leisurely Saturday. Yikes.
Once you are off the main roads it gets peaceful quickly.
