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Fushimi Inari Taisha is a very popular tourist attraction in the world. It’s conveniently located just two stops (about five minutes) from Kyoto Station, so many people decide to stop by while sightseeing in Kyoto, and the crowds never cease to gather, even after the sun has set.
Recently, it has been crowded with many people from overseas, so it is difficult to take a commemorative photo with popular places such as the “Senbon Torii” in the background.
Therefore, I would like to recommend visiting at night. It depends on the day, but after 9 p.m., the number of tourists is much smaller.
At night, the contribution office is closed, so you can’t get “amulets”, but the Inari Taisha Shrine at night is fantastic, and you can enjoy a completely different atmosphere from the daytime.
Mt. Inari is also home to some of Kyoto’s best night view spots. You have to walk for about an hour from the main shrine, so if you have enough time, it is recommended to climb it.
However, wild monkeys and wild boars live on Mt. Inari, and when there is no sign of people, they may come out to the approach, so be careful when climbing Mt. Inari.
Now, I would like to introduce the nighttime visit to Inari Taisha Shrine and the time when I actually encountered wild animals.
Scenery of night worship
The following photos were taken on weekdays between 8 p.m. ~ 10 p.m.
Photograph of the “Lou Gate” from the direction of the back approach road
At 8:30pm, there are far fewer people around this time.
The central building is the “Lou Gate”, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property, and the “Temizusha” is in the right foreground.
Photograph of “Lou Gate” from the direction of Omotesando
There are few tourists at night, and the illuminated tower gate is a great photo spot. Even I, who am used to seeing it, is fascinated by it, “Oh ~!”
Senbon Torii
This is the “Senbon Torii” that continues from the “Okumiya” to the “Okusha”. There are lights installed on the approach to the shrine, so it’s bright and you can walk without any problems.
The approach road from “Okusha Shrine” to Mt. Inari “Torii Group”
At this point, you hardly meet people anymore, and it feels more eerie than fantastic. The place where I met the wild boar is also near here.
A square with a panoramic view of the city of Kyoto
About an hour’s walk from the main shrine, if you climb Mt. Inari, there is a square called “Yotsutsuji” that is divided into two roads to the summit and a road to climb Kojinmine.
During the day, it is like a resting place for people who climb Mt. Inari, but at night it is known as one of the best night view spots in Kyoto. Therefore, I saw several people enjoying the night view in this place.
You have to climb steep slopes and stairs, but the night view of Kyoto city from here is spectacular and worth seeing.
Around 9 p.m. Mt. Inari “Yotsutsuji”
Things to keep in mind when visiting at night
Although it is not well known, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and Mt. Inari are never closed 24 hours a day. This can be inferred from the nameplates hanging at the rest areas scattered around Mt. Inari. It may not be the main house, but it seems that some people live there.
Therefore, you can climb to the top of the mountain even at night, but you need to be careful because wild monkeys and wild boars will come close to the approach when there is no sign of people.
The photo below shows a wild boar that I encountered next to the toilet in front of “Yotsutsuji” around 9:30 p.m.
It’s dark and the picture is not good, but I’m about 2 meters old and I’m “pretty dangerous!”
The wild boars encountered were three parents and children, and the parent was nearly 2 meters long.
It was dark where the wild boar was, and I noticed it at close range. At that moment, I said “Wow!”, and the wild boar was also startled, and suddenly started breathing heavily and making rustling noises.
I thought it would be a big deal if they rushed at me at this size, so I slowly left the place so as not to make a sound of footsteps, even though I was scared, and managed to get through it.
This event is “horrifying” even when I recall it later.
I have seen wild monkeys and snakes on Mt. Inari before, so please be careful when visiting at night.
【Precautions for night worship】
- Wild animals may be encountered at night. (Don’t irritate them, stay calm, and walk away from the scene.)
- Toilets are closed at night, so be sure to stop at the station or convenience store before visiting.
- The award office is closed, so you cannot receive amulets or bills.
- For safety reasons, visit the temple at night, and try to go with more than one person.
Conclusion
In this article, in addition to the fantastic torii gates and night view spots, what I really wanted to convey was that I came across a wild boar. And because I really wanted you to be careful because everyone can encounter it.
Actually, my son, who was with me, was the first to spot the boar, so I was able to escape, but if I had been alone, I might have been injured.
“It was really dangerous,” I get chills even when I think about it now.