Kyoto, the Ten Thousand Torii
The southern variant of the eastern circuit, built around Japan's most photographed shrine: the thousands of vermilion torii of Fushimi Inari, then the climb north through Higashiyama.
The points that matter.
The thousands of torii of Fushimi Inari, best experienced at sunrise
The climb up Mount Inari, between three hours and ninety minutes depending on the version
The Kiyomizudera terrace
Complements the Eastern Kyoto module, never sell both together
Le programme
Kyoto, the Ten Thousand Torii
Arriving at Fushimi Inari Taisha at sunrise is the only way to experience it peacefully: the torii, donated by companies and individuals, climb all the way to the top of Mount Inari, a three-hour round trip, or a shorter version to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint. The rest of the day heads north, to Kiyomizudera temple through the lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, then to Gion and Yasaka shrine, all the way to Heian Jingu and Nanzenji temple.