I have travelled many places in Japan, but one of my favourite cities has to be Kyoto because of its rich history. As someone who is interested in traditional Japanese architecture and culture, cities like Kyoto are what draw me more than modern cities like Tokyo. Two of my favourite sites in Kyoto are Fushimi Inari Taisha, the famous Shinto shrine on the side of a mountain with torii gates along the paths, and Tofuku-ji, one of the five major Buddhist temples. For your enjoyment, I have put together a one-day Kyoto itinerary that combines these two amazing sites!
If you are looking for traditional Japanese culture, this combination will scratch that itch! Even better is that there is an alternative path down the mountain that runs alongside a river and through a bamboo forest – and no one seems to know about it!
Step 1: Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha is arguably one of the most famous locations in Japan. From the rows upon rows of torii gates lining the mountain paths to the millions of pictures on Instagram, it is one of the most recognisable places in Japan. It is the first stop on our one-day Kyoto itinerary.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a bit removed from the rest of the usual tourist destinations in Kyoto, but it is easy to get to. From Kyoto Station, take the Nara Line train heading for Nara. The second stop is called “Inari Station,” and it is just outside the shrine at the bottom of the mountain and contains the main buildings.
From here, you can begin climbing up the path, which sits behind the temple’s main buildings. You are greeted with the Fushimi Inari Taisha Sembon Torii or Path of One Thousand Torii Gates.
On your way up, you will reach several viewpoints from which you can see central Kyoto. On a clear day, you can see across the city and even as far as Osaka!
Here are some of my tips for Fushimi Inari Taisha and skipping the crowds:
- Skip peak hours. The shrine and mountain paths are open 24/7 but most people go from about midmorning to the mid-afternoon. Going outside of these times means that there will be a lot fewer people. Early birds should go early in the morning – you could even catch the sunrise. Those who don’t do well in the early morning (like me) can also go up in the evening and see the sunset. Be warned that mountains surround Kyoto, and sunset is not when the sun goes beyond the horizon; rather, it is when it goes behind the western mountains.
- Climb higher. Most people climb to only the first or second viewpoint, then go “Oh! Ah” before leaving, missing large parts of the experience. If you push yourself and climb to the top, there will be very few people. The climb is not challenging, and the top is mostly flat, so you can stroll through the torii gates. I have done this routinely and gone several minutes in between seeing people. Perfect for getting amazing Instagram photos without worrying about others (accidentally) photobombing and getting in the way.
- Go down via the back way. See more below on the amazing bamboo forest you can walk through without seeing a soul!
Read more here:
In total, I would say plan about 3 hours for Fushimi Inari Taisha, the hike up and walking around the loop, especially if you want to stop and see the individual shrines and take pictures with them and the torii gates.
Step 2: Bamboo Forest Hike
Another reason to hike to the top of Fushimi Inari Taisha, in addition to beating the crowds, is that you can go down “the back way” through a stunning bamboo forest that almost no one knows about or walks through.
Fushimi Inari Taisha’s hill sits in and is surrounded by this forest, but most parts are not accessible. However, once you have completed the loop, return to the area near the Ganrikisha and Gozendani Hohaisho shrines near 12 o’clock (if you look at the loop like a clock). Between those and the Tenryu Okami Shrine/Seimeitaki Lodge is a path that descends downwards. This eventually comes out near Tofuku-ji Temple.
The walk is about 1 km long and has a gentle downhill slope, so walking is easy for anyone of any ability, especially if you are able to reach the loop through the traditional way, which is much steeper. Part of the path is an access road to support the buildings and shrines at the top of the loop, so (very rarely) you may see a vehicle on this path.
Depending on how long you want to spend in this untouched bamboo forest, it will take about 15 minutes to get from the top to the bottom. After this point, you will enter a small, sleepy neighbourhood combining modern/western and traditional Japanese architectural styles.
From this point, it only takes about 5 minutes to walk to Tofuku-ji Temple.
If you decide not to walk through the bamboo forest and instead return to the Inari Shrine, it will take you at least 25 minutes to get back, followed by a couple of minutes train ride, and then more walking on the other end to get to Tofuku-ji. In other words, this is a much faster and cheaper option for your one-day Kyoto itinerary.
You can find the entire route for this walk here (Google Maps).
Step 3: Tofuku-Ji Temple
The second stop on the one-day Kyoto itinerary is Tofuku-Ji Temple and the Tsuten-Kyo bridge, both famous among Japanese and foreigners. Known as one of the “Five Great Zen Temples in Kyoto”, it is also the least visited. However, with the combination of the awe-inspiring buildings, the fantastic valley garden and the (covered) bridge, it is easy to see the attraction.
This temple dates back to 1255, although the modern buildings were rebuilt between 1917 and 1934 after a fire in 1881. Due to their wooden nature, many temples across Japan have suffered this fate throughout history. The temple was rebuilt to resemble the old one—and my, is it stunning!
The majestic nature, the fantastic colouring and the sheer scale are enough to impress anyone. If you go during the autumn when the maple leaves are changing, you are also exposed to a garden in vibrant colours resembling fire.
Read more about Tofuku-ji here:
Depending on how long you spend here, it could take you a couple of hours to explore the entire complex.
Food
Due to their popularity, there are many food options around Fushimi Inari Taisha and Tofuku-ji Temple. You can get everything from typical and traditional Japanese foods, such as ramen, udon, set lunches, etc., to various cuisines including Indian, Thai, Mexican and more.
In addition to restaurants, food vendors on the street sell bento (lunch boxes), snacks, and more. The food vendors are more likely to be there during the morning and early afternoon to target the lunch crowd, but restaurants will be open for longer.
There are also more food options closer to the Tofukuji train station, which is slightly to the north of the temple, which is also convenient as this is one of the ways to get back to Kyoto Station. There is also the Keihan Main Line, which you can use to go north and south on the east side of the river.
What else to do in Kyoto?
There are a lot of things you can do in Kyoto, and I highly recommend staying for more than just one day. This one-day Kyoto itinerary can be done on any of those days – after which you go to one of the many hotels or other places to stay and continue to explore another day.
Here are some ideas:
Thanks for reading! Want to do some more exploring? Have a look at the travel map:
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One response to “One-Day Kyoto Itinerary: Combining Fushimi Inari Taisha and Tofuku-ji Temple”
Both are amazing; especially the Bamboo Forest walk.
…Sum1 u no