Fushimi Inari & Southern Kyoto in One Day
Climb through the ten thousand torii to the summit before the crowds, snack under the mountain, then Tofuku-ji and the sake breweries of Fushimi.
Last updated 2026-09-03 · 1-day self-guided plan
Fushimi Inari & Fushimi
Torii to the summit, then sake by the canal
For early risers who want the full mountain, not just the first tunnel, and a relaxed afternoon of temples and sake.
1Fushimi Inari, lower torii tunnels
Two stops from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line to Inari and you are at the gate; be there by 7:00. The shrine never closes. The famous double row of Senbon Torii is the first ten minutes; walk it slowly now, because by 9:00 it is a queue.
1 HourCost: Free- 2
Summit loop of Mt Inari
Keep climbing past the Yotsutsuji crossroads, where most people turn back, around the summit loop of small shrines and fox statues; it is about 4 km with stone steps throughout. Tea houses along the way sell drinks and simple food; carry water in summer.
2 HoursCost: Free 
3Inari-mae food street
Back at the base around 10:30, the lane between the shrine and the station is lined with stalls: inari sushi, grilled sparrow or quail for the brave, and matcha soft serve. Sit down for a bowl of kitsune udon, the fox's favourite fried tofu.
45 MinutesCost: ¥1,000–2,000- 4
Tofuku-ji
One stop back toward Kyoto, or a 20-minute walk, is Tofuku-ji, a vast Zen temple whose Tsutenkyo bridge looks over a valley of maples; famous in November, calm and green the rest of the year. The checkerboard moss garden of the Hojo is the other ticket.
1 HourCost: ¥500–1,000 
5Fushimi sake district
Take the Keihan Line a few stops south to Fushimi-Momoyama around 14:00. Willow-lined canals run between white-walled breweries; the Gekkeikan Okura museum explains the brewing and ends in a tasting, and several breweries pour by the glass. Boat rides on the canal run in the warmer months.
1.5–2 HoursCost: ¥500–1,500
Day 1 Estimated Cost
- Food & sake¥3,000–5,000
- Transport¥600–1,000
- Admissions¥1,000–2,500
Tips
JR Nara Line to Inari, Keihan Line for Fushimi: the two lines run parallel and both accept IC cards.
The summit loop is all stone steps: trail shoes, water, and skip it in the midday heat of July and August.
Breakfast is the food street after the climb, not before; nothing opens before 9:00.
The empty torii photo exists only before 7:30; after that, shoot the side paths above Yotsutsuji, which stay quiet all day.