Numerous vermilion Torii gates at a shrine, a mystical and photogenic sight.

 Torii gates are placed at the entrances of shrines and other religious buildings to mark the boundary between the sacred and secular realms.

 These are countless vermilion Torii gates lined up on the path at the famous shrine in Kyoto City. I'll talk about this later in this blog.

 The other day, I visited Nangu-Taisha-shrine located in Tarui Town, Gifu Prefecture and posted the blog titled “The sound of Furin makes us a little cooler in hot summer”. 

 It is the main Torii gate of the Nangu-Taisha-shrine at the entrance path to the shrine. It is a very huge concrete Torii. In fact, there are various sizes of Torii in a shrine.　

  In the back of Nangu-Taisha-shrine, there is Nangu-Inari-Shrine, one of the affiliated shrines of Nangu-Taisha-shrine.  As a matter of fact, it is located deep in the small mountain behind Nangu-Taisha-shrine, but I made up my mind to visited this shrine.

 I went through numerous vermilion Torii gates connected to the shrine. They are much smaller compared with above one.

 In general, Inari Shrines are characterized by numerous vermilion Torii gates which are lined up densely on the approach to the shrine.  In this shrine, these lined Torii gates is called “100 consecutive Torii”.

 

 Since the Edo period, the torii gate has been built by the dedication of worshipers because it was said that the wish would come true if the Torii gate was dedicated.

 In fact, the dedicator's names are written on each Torii pillar. This was viewed from the opposite side.

 After going through the numerous Torii gates, the main shrine appeared.

This is the main building of Nangu-Inari-Shrine, looking humble compared to those of Nangu-Taisha-shrine.

 

 Now the main performer makes an appearance.

I'd like to introduce you Fushimi Inari Taisha located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, a representative shrine in Kyoto. This is the head shrine of Inari Shrines in Japan including about 30,000 Inari Shrines nationwide, for example Nangu-Inari-Shrine. 

 It is amazing there are about 10,000 Torii gates on Mount Inari, and the area where the Torii gates split into two is called Senbon Torii, “1,000 consecutive Torii” ,shown by a red arrow in the below map.

 One of the highlights of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is the Senbon Torii, “1,000 consecutive Torii”, a mystical and photogenic sight. After praying at the main shrine, and go further in, you will catch sight of countless vermilion Torii gates lined up on the path to the inner shrine. 

 As you can see, these Torii are lined up very tightly compared with those of Nangu-Inari-Shrine. I felt like as if I went through a tunnel made of Torii gates.

Photos of Fushimi Inari Taisha were taken about nine years ago when I went to Kyoto. I'd love to go there again if given an opportunity. 

Information: If you use a train, a short walk from Inari Station on the JR Nara Line (5 minutes from Kyoto Station). The shrine located in front of the JR station.