Fushimi-inari shrine for today! (a love letter to torii… and vending machines)

2:01 PM

Kyoto is doing the most. Temples, snacks, me sobbing over cheap onigiri (MURAH!), and a concierge who casually told me, “Oh, festival on July 16.” Okay destiny, I see you.

Getting there (a.k.a. “I, train”)

Hop the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station → 2 stops → JR Inari Station.

Step out and BOOM: shrine vibes immediately. It looks like a shrine because…it is a shrine. Shocking, I know.

First thing my eyes found? Not the famous gate. ICE. The kind that looks cold enough to forgive all your life choices.

#CAPSLOCKWAR

So this will be my first experience for exploring the shrine, 楽しい (￣3￣)

Foxes, gates, repeat

Inari’s messengers (hello, fox statues) are everywhere, looking wise and slightly judgy, like they know I ate onigiri before hiking.

Then the main event: tunnels of vermilion torii, stacking into the hillside like a sunset that learned choreography. The paths braid up Mt. Inari and it’s gorgeous and…long. Bring water. Bring two.

Tiny ritual, big main-character energy

Stopped at the purification basin (chozuya). Ladle, left hand, right hand, rinse mouth, handle: pretend you’ve done this forever. I whispered “sugoiiiii” every five seconds. Locals: politely pretending I’m not feral.

Omamori haul & snack diplomacy

Bought an academics charm because either I’m stupid or lazy (choose your fighter). Also bought snacks, because “cultural immersion.”

What I did in the shrine? just buying snacks, took a lot of photos, and bought a charm :D

Here's the list of charms if you want so see it! btw, i bought academic accomplishment charm because i am stupid or too lazy to study lol

Vending machines? Yes, even here. Japan said “hydration or death; choose wisely.”

The climb (send help)

I just met this shop and i just remembered chibi maruko chan that I always seen on tv when i was child lol

About 35 minutes later I hit Yotsutsuji (that big intersection viewpoint) and wheezed, “Is that Kyoto?”

Answer: yes.

Also yes: my soul leaving my body in a very respectful way.

Lunch: onigiri, obviously. (・ω・)ノ

Cheap, perfect, the reason I’ll cry on my return flight.

Side quests & getting lost (on brand)

At some point I was 86% sure I’d been kidnapped by the mountain.

“Where is the exit?” became a lifestyle.

I confidently asked a man: “Tofukuji no exit to doko desu ka?” (Do not…quote me.)

He said “Tofukuji, Tofukuji,” pointed, probably laughed after I left. Fair.

Found a blue sign, declared victory, discovered it was not the exit. Continued my pilgrimage. Found ice cream. Declared new victory.

Where we should go next?

Pro tips from a sweaty gremlin:

JR Inari Station is the door. Start there, end there (eventually).
Water, hat, SPF 50, small towel, coins for vending machines.
The torii keep going. So do you. Turn back whenever the drama in your calves says “enough.”
Buy the charm. Future-you needs the placebo.
July 16 = festival. Crowds + magic + me crying in sunglasses.

I came for a quick look and stayed long enough to question every life decision. 10/10 would get lost politely again. Next stop? …after this ice cream

0 comments