Hiking Mt. Inari with the 1000 Torii gates (23.06.2025)

© Helwig Hauser

© Helwig Hauser

Note that this track has been created from memory, i.e., it was not recorded automatically.

Trip Summary

We first took a bus towards the NW of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, then walking up to the shrine (among many, many other tourists!). Further upwards, we first followed the main route, plassing through numerous red torii gates. Slightly north of Omokaru Stone, we then left the main trail, following a side-trail towards the East (Fushimi Kandakara Shrine). There, and following this minor side-trail further eastwards, we entered an amazing bamboo forest, soon later reaching an old cemetary in the woods. By that time, a thunderstorm had developed with some rain, adding to the very special atmosphere in the forest. A bit further along the trail, we then tried to find the Shiragiku waterfall, but turned around in the bamboo forest because to too many fallen bamboo trees, blocking our progress. Then, we found a steep trail, which brought us out of the valley and up to Mt. Inari (from the southwest side of it). There, we re-joined the tourists -- at least those, who did not turn around in the rain. Passing through many, many torii gates, again, we walked "back" to the Mt. Inari Crossroads -- from there, we continued further northwards (again off the main tracks), passing by the Kojingamine Observation Deck (not much of a Deck, though, but some nice views). Following a minor road further northwards, we descended from Mt. Inari towards a residential area at Kurumazaka. A bit further down (towards the West), we then visited the Tofuku-ji Temple, which impressed us -- especially with a very nice, calm atmosphere. The combination of an off-beat side-trail and the heavy thunderstorm altogether made this Mt. Inari experience a very special and nice one, not spoiled by the large number of tourists, which stream there apparently on a daily basis.

Photos

Selected photos are available as Google photo album.

Useful Resources

See also the related FB-page Hiking around Bergen, Norway.