Fushimi Inari Taisha

Dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and business, Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of approximately 32,000 Inari shrines across Japan. The main attraction is the Senbon Torii — literally "thousands of torii gates" — donated by businesses seeking prosperity and inscribed with the donor's name and date. The gates create a tunnel of vermillion that winds up the 233-meter Mount Inari.

The full circuit to the summit and back takes approximately 2-3 hours; most visitors only complete the lower sections before the crowds thin out. Go at dawn (the shrine never closes) or after 7pm when the gates are lit by lanterns and virtually empty. The mountain itself is a sacred site containing dozens of sub-shrines, stone foxes (the messenger of Inari), and memorial areas. Free entry at any hour.