Basic Information
Description
Fushimi Inari currently enshrines Ukanomitama-no-Okami as its principal deity, along with Sadahiko-no-Okami, Omiya-no-Me-no-Okami, Tanaka-no-Okami, and Shi-no-Okami as co-enshrined deities.
Mount Inari, where Fushimi Inari sits, has been known since ancient times as a sacred site (kannabi), and the entire mountain is an object of worship. "Inari" originally came from "Inenari" — the idea of rice cakes giving birth to new rice — so it began as a god of agriculture. As the head shrine of all Inari shrines across Japan, Fushimi Inari has gathered deep devotion. The Hata clan inherited the local kannabi worship and formally enshrined the deity in 711. During the Heian period, crowds of worshippers began flocking to the shrine on Hatsu-Uma day (the first Day of the Horse in February), said to be the day the Inari deity descended upon Mount Inari. With the growing popularity of the Inari Festival, the shrine now boasts over 1,300 years of history. The current main hall is at the foot of the mountain, but until 1438 it was apparently located at the third peak — so making the pilgrimage must have been quite the undertaking back then.
The Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates) offer a different atmosphere going up versus coming back down. The path has steps, but it's fairly steep and requires some stamina. If you plan to climb all the way to the summit, you should probably set aside about two hours.