Kyoto - Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine

Headed out today anticipating another long walk. This shrine is one of the ones we were most excited about. The walk up the forested mountain is shaded by a series of 10,000 orange tori gates. At various points on the trail there are openings for cemeteries and temples, and we were lucky to see a few Shinto ceremonies in progress while we were climbing.

Each tori gate is donated, with the donor's name and date carved on the back of the gate. The higher up you go, the more expensive the donation required. The shrine is dedicated to financial success, apparently. No, really...it is! It's focused on rice and foxes somehow.

It took about 2 hours up and back...it was a lot of stairs. After we found another ramen place for lunch. We have eaten so many noodles here even Alex is starting to get tired of them!Read more