Fushimi Inari hike

Travel Reports by jioruji

Note: The opinions and views expressed in this user report are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of japan-guide.com.

January 25, 2014 - Fushimi Inari hike

Using my "Lonely Plant Hiking in Japan" for the first time, I went of to the Fushimi Inari shrine to take the long torii path, but also to look for spots less visited.

As I have a very bad sense of orientation - or better said no sense of orientation - I arrived quite early at a point that I thought I was lost. Well, obviously, with such a clear torii path it is hard to get lost, but I did not find the exit as described in Lonely Planet. So somewhere near the peak of Inari mountain I took a turn to the right to descend some steep staircases. They lead to a "hidden" shrine with a small waterfall. It was not actually hidden, but definitely off the beaten track. Sometimes in Japan, the best trips are those without any people around. Being alone in Japan is like a breath of fresh air.

Going back to torii path, I walked parallel to it for a while to be reunited with it and the people taking it. Just at the point that I was planning to just walk the path back to the entrance, I found the exit Lonely Planet was talking about. In my enthusiasm that for once I was not lost, I walked in a circle back to the way I came from. Eventually though, I took to correct path to Tofukuji and enjoyed the huge buildings and laid-back gardens for a while. While this temple is definitely more beautiful in any other season, the lack of other visitors was a plus and gave me "zen" feeling.
Leaving the temple through the main gate I got back on the train to my town to relax in the sofa with a beer.

list all posts

List of Posts:
2017/03/11 - Reversible Destiny at Yoro & Ogaki
2017/01/28 - Miyama - Kabuki-no-Sato -
2016/11/26 - Yatsubuchi-no-Taki
2016/11/23 - Takeda Castle Ruins
2016/11/19 - Menfudo Limestone Cave
2016/07/31 - Wagashi in Kyoto
2016/07/23 - Norikura Heights
2016/07/01 - Hakodate
2016/06/30 - Onuma Park
2016/06/29 - Exploring part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park
2016/06/28 - To central Hokkaido
2016/06/27 - Historic Village of Hokkaido
2016/02/03 - Himeji: the real castle and the fake one
2015/09/25 - Izu Peninsula: Atami, Shimoda & Cape Irozaki
2015/07/23 - Sendai
2015/07/22 - Mount Zao
2015/07/21 - Matsushima
2015/05/30 - Climbing Mount Iwawaki
2015/03/22 - Beppu
2015/03/21 - Kunisaki Peninsula
2015/03/20 - Takachiho
2015/03/19 - Kumamoto
2015/01/12 - Satsukiyama - Minoh hike
2014/11/01 - Aizu-Wakamatsu
2014/10/31 - Sadogashima
2014/10/30 - Kurobe Gorge
2014/01/25 - Fushimi Inari hike
2014/01/04 - Hidden Nachi Falls