DON’T make this mistake in Japan⛩️

This is how we avoided he crowds at the famous torii gate walkway in Kyoto🙌
This place, called Fushimi Inari Taisha, has been all over social media lately, and it's of course a really cool spot. Sadly, however, it's hard to appreciate the beauty and tranquility with thousands of other people around⛩
There are as many as 10,000 Shinto torii gates here and the full loop takes 1-2 hours to complete👣
Save this for your future Japan trip or share it with someone who's going🙌

[@trudatbellyfat7358]

The irony of tourists whining about how much of a shame it is that such a spiritual place has become so touristy got me like 😂😂😂

[@asdanjer]

Dont forget the Ironly Plus point for posting it on social media. 😂

[@mindyourbusiness4199]

Just another example of them wanting it for themselves and nobody else. How mad would they be if it was restricted to tourists.

[@joelandrewgibson4820]

It's so much worse. They're making trash "influencer" videos and being disrespectful.

[@adaikonen]

And the shrines dont mind as they mostly survive on visitor donations so more people=shrine stays

[@LLJKCicero]

"You're not stuck in traffic. You ARE traffic."

[@CraigTulloch]

“It’s a shame this place is so touristy” says one of the many tourists

[@nntflow7058]

We love Pick Me KZbinrs.

[@briceannonier4327]

Was literally about to comment that hahahah

[@deeveed_]

LOL only when it benefits them

[@Iva_RN87023]

I know, he is a tourist too. I hate when o hear these wannabe influencers make comments as if they’re the only ones who have the right to be there.

[@pumpkinhill4570]

Most Shinto shrines are open 24/7. Kyoto sunrise is at 4:45AM. Get to it.

[@germanfisch]

Trains usually start 5am

[@_Hollie_]

@@germanfischyou could always overnight it

[@lxvius]

​@@germanfischwalk

[@confused_shark2537]

@@lxviusI feel like walking alone in a foreign country at 4:00 am is a bad idea

[@lars7935]

@@confused_shark2537Then stay home scared?

[@jamesklebenow6885]

“It’s a shame this spiritual place has become so touristy…” said the tourist.

[@sunsetbeach2893]

LOL. I thought the exact same thing.

[@kayzeaza]

Yeah and the shrines survive off of donations by visitors so they want people to come and experience the place

[@V-V1875-h]

Absolutely pretentious guy

[@pluto-4x]

the irony

[@10ftSamsquanchy]

Spiritual places are meant to be visited

[@aaabbb-ve9po]

Saddest part is, in modern day the only reason people would want to avoid the crowds is to take that perfect instagram picture. Not to actually enjoy tranquility or the moment.

[@katie18976]

Exactly

[@RealityHurts923]

Some can do both like myself. I’ve been a photographer way before IG. Why should I stop taking and posting photos because someone is online mad at people taking photos? LoL. I still find time to enjoy where I visit.

[@chef8118]

speak for yafelf

[@Anreii]

Why not both? I like walking in nice looking quiet natural areas famous or otherwise. I like pretty photos to capture memories and feel proud of getting a good shot

[@LinwoodPowell]

Personally, I miss the days of tourism without social media. Phone cameras were hideous so you had to have the expensive DSLR cameras.

[@gk-zb1jr]

I went there last month. I strongly recommend you go to this place early in the morning if possible. It’s peaceful and quiet. Can you hear birds chirping, cats chilling, leaves rustling. You’ll understand why it is a spiritual place.

[@ichiNihon]

yes true , i went at 4.00am was perfect and beautiful

[@NefBZA0999]

How does 1 hear a cat chill please..?!?

[@alexsakon]

Also, you can go in the middle of the night. It’s deserted and quite spooky

[@joshuatan942]

Word I would use is mystical. Especially with the night lights.

[@carabelvedere-bain1419]

i did this and came across a wild pig 😂 was terrifying

[@corgolyin]

I'm planning to do this before I leave Kyoto, since I'm staying so close I don't have to stress about trains not running xD

[@robertang4642]

Have you seen the black cat?

[@sandwitch911]

Went near the evening. Sun had fully set by the time we were headed down. A little spooky, but worst park had to be the mosquitoes. Ugh...

[@shirankedo-ib8uv]

I thought it was a video on Shinto etiquette, such as "Do not walk in the center of the torii gate," "Take off your hat and bow in front of the gate," but it was a tourist tip.😅

[@user-wj1hx2gv4s]

exactly! I saw a foreigner don't follow manners in shrine.😢

[@jakoOrochi-w2017]

because god is walking in center.so we walking edge.

[@destituteanddecadent9106]

​@@jakoOrochi-w2017is that true?

[@riffgroove]

Ordinarily, you bow when you pass under a Torill gate, but when there are 5,725 of them in a row...

[@cadenpickle8379]

Just visited, strongly recommend going at night. It’s beautiful with lights and absolutely deserted

[@-siranzalot-]

Same, went their in April and there were only a handful of people around when we went there around 8 or 9 pm. The vibe was absolutely mystical

[@luft9235]

*Complains about excessive tourism* *Walks in the center of the torii* **"This spiritual place has become so touristy!"**

[@slimprism]

Go during the night, they have it lit up in a spectacular way, and you should do the whole trail. It is also basically empty and the cats interact then as well.

[@RC2225]

I did that too. In the lower parts were wild pigs with their young ones grunting in the dark.

[@moonshroom711]

“We thought we were early waking up at 7 am!” 7am being the literal average wake up time for people in japan

[@Bunny-ch2ul]

Do it at night. It's magical and mostly empty. I wouldn't recommend doing a super touristy destination empty at night really anywhere but Japan. Japan is ridiculously safe though so you can do stuff like that. Truly amazing.

[@h8GW]

'Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded." -Yogi Berra

[@shaegoldstin]

It's a shame that this spiritual place has become so touristy *says the tourist*

[@cameronguzman-keller477]

Friends and I went down an off-beaten path when we started making our way back to the bottom of the shrine/mountain, and it was probably the most peaceful part of the adventure. There was no one else around, and the stairs we were trekking down were rough. We eventually ended up in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by bamboo trees, and when we reached the bottom of the hill, we came across a small village area that had no one else around. It was honestly kind of creepy at first, but after a little bit we ended back up at the Inari station. It was a very interesting experience. Definitely wanna come back and do this again at a different time!

[@mushieroom]

I think I know the route you're talking about! My family and I wandered onto a separate path away from the tori gates and just kept following the path on our walk to the top. It ended up being quite a detour, but it was also very, very peaceful because everyone else walks the normal way up. There were a lot of good opportunities for taking pics amongst the bamboo with no one else around, despite how busy the mountain actually is. I remember when we reached the top the sun was starting to set, and then we walked back down as it got dark, we must have spent hours taking pics. Such a pretty area.

[@Mamasparky86]

This is 100% true. At the halfway point, almost all of the tourists head back down. My husband and I climbed to the top of Fushimi Inari and got a peaceful, gorgeous view of Kyoto with maybe four other people we saw. This is when you really take all the pictures you want of the thousand gates

[@patrickhoneyman9019]

I remember going to the top with my friend when I last visited. It feels great near the summit and as mentioned, you do get some brilliant photos that you can look back on fondly. Not sure when it'll happen yet but looking forward to my next trip over (as long as things line up).

[@jaredf6205]

Don't forget theres a hidden bamboo forest trail off the main trail that rivals arashiyama except no one is ever in it. I don't know how to find it, just wander into the woods about a third of the way up.

[@gsrforyou]

Need more details on this..

[@pinelopikopanaki9341]

This ⛩️ is the symbol of Japan 🇯🇵.

[@AmiyaD1611]

Me and a friend arrived there quite late in february. It was getting darker and darker and less and less people were there. When we were going back there were like 0 people, and it was so beautifully spooky at that time too; so I can also highly recommend visiting at later hours!

[@WizardsDecision]

I got there at around 1:30pm It was busy at the bottom, but if you hike up 20-30mins it’s pretty empty. There are also many smaller prayer sites as you ascend.

[@xiaoka]

yes exactly. I think its always like that. It doesn't matter when you go, its never crowded past the first few rest areas.

[@LisaF777]

We went at 2pm and as long as you keep waking, it gets less and less busy.

[@user-lw8dr6xx8i]

I am from Kyoto and i can literally see Inari mountain everyday from my bedroom window. I know it's secret places more than anyone.

[@DrLove-ls8lg]

You all are complaining about how the tourist is complaining about the lost of spirituality when literally the writing on the Torii gates are the names of companies that bought and sponsored it

[@user-is3yn7xr4c]

You're the one who's complaining of an unfactual idea that tourist is complaining about the lost of spirituality of that place given the fact that he's actually the one who had lost his own's spirituality because that Torii gates isn't the place where spirituality is. Rather, it's on the people who visited that place for spirituality.

[@fldon2306]

OMG! Did the walk up the Mountain! Beautiful!! We arrived about 9:30 local and, yeah, was kinda busy. It was summer, so by the time we got to the top at 10:30-11, we were hot and kinda sweaty. Got some drinks and ice cream to cool back down. Viewing many of the family shrines was moving and calming. The walk down the back side was nice and shady. A “must do” when visiting Kyoto!! Thx!

[@amrelarcher8990]

there’s a hiking trail up there. If you really don’t care about the touristy spots you would just hike up the trail as many locals do. but just be honest and admit you are a tourist and can’t miss out on the imaginary clout you gain from posing at a landmark

[@rawrice3096]

Of course they care about visiting all of the touristy hot spots! Where else are they going to be able to do their very cheesy smiles and cringy worthy posses?

[@jadesolstice2692]

Fushimi Inari is open 24/7. The problem with wanting to go to the very top is if you have a weak bladder. It takes 45 minutes to reach the top from the last public toilet available and another 25-30 minutes to go back down. 😅

[@KARINA29534]

I love Japan ❤ my dream destination

[@reydo17]

same tho

[@sacramentofoodforest]

“It’s kinda a shame” made me die

[@Rina1992chan]

Jup, that is so true. The higher you geht, the fewer people you'll see. So if you want good pictures, go higher 👌

[@klausi6483]

I was there when it opened at 6am. By the time I was headed down from the temple the hoards of bus people were headed up. I took a taxi to the gate.

[@jjmanning8621]

Is that a tourist saying it's unfortunate that so touristy??

[@xxxAnnetegothxxx]

We went to a beautiful side path to the top where we could hear the monks praying in the main temple and met so many smaller shrines along the way. One of the most important spiritual experiences of my life.

[@nelstalgic7878]

or…. come there early. i went there at 6am, no crowds ✨

[@momijiparfait]

Coming back from Japan. Fushimi Inari is absolutely splendid, even with the crowd.

[@chigga76]

Yup exactly. We walked all the way around and you're so right, just keep waking just keep waking 😂

[@Eldiran1]

Protips: this temple, the fushimi Inari, is one of the rare temple open 24/24, so you should go in the evening! The main path are lighted, ambiance is amazing and it's no packed at all.

[@indyi5344]

A lot of the local high school coaches make their athletes run all the way up and down that mountain for training. And Japanese people do go there, but they visit for specific holidays and events. Japanese religions don’t require weekly worship. Going there with no reason on random days is like going to a Christmas Mass in July- you wouldn’t.

[@TakoyakiBoys]

Yup, did the exact same and man it was so peaceful and lovely at the top! Also felt like a huge achievement in itself

[@user-td5ux1fx9o]

Made the first train 2 days ago, and while it was dark, by the time I reached the crossroads, it was sunrise.

[@zanizone3617]

I went at the same time in the morning, and there was almost nobody. By 9 it was getting packed, but I had a good headstart so I mostly had the place for myself, climbing up. It's quite a jog though. My suggestion would be to take one of the side paths that you encounter that lead to more secluded areas and smaller shrines, if you want to soak in the eerie atmosphere. Of course when you get back to the main path the crowd may have caught up with you.

[@chandyran]

Go at 7-8 PM. It’s darker out, but there are almost no crowds. It’s nice and spooky when you get to the top.

[@vme3000]

My friend and i went at night. It made a huge difference and the gates looked awesome

[@benwiddecombe8884]

Yep I did the same. Going at night just added to the atmosphere of the place, the lookouts were amazing, and there was nobody around

[@MagicalBread]

I took the back way and it was amazing! Barely anyone else. Only a slight incline on dirt paths and I didn’t have to climb a few hundred stairs like everyone else. Only saw crowds on the way down. Everyone looked miserable climbing all those stairs!

[@alexandervowles3518]

Wow, quintessential quintuplets really accurately drew this area

[@SkyblueHippie]

It's true. Fushimi Inari Taisha is only jammed-packed until the first stop, but after that there's barely any people around, it can get kinda creepy if you hike up alone (but no less beautiful!)

[@RyuukoKobayashi]

As I'm in Osaka trying to plan a visit to this place this week, this is super useful to me. Thank you!

[@ImranShamsul]

Can recommend doing this when the sun sets, despite being empty, you won't be alone

[@antoniof.8614]

Finally a Japan travel tips video with information I can wholeheartedly agree with.

[@huppaduppa]

I did the full climb up and down with my family and it took us like 5 hours. It was kinda rough but totally worth it. Like he says, the closer you get to the top the less people, but be aware it's not just a chill little detour lmao Also, there's tons of temples graveyards etc on the way up and they're all beautiful.

[@Ari.-zj8gv]

Now they know what to do. Soon the top will be as packed and that's on you! Tourist!

[@Stefejan]

Lmao, I arrived there at around 11 AM. Full of tourists at the entrance, like it was difficult to even walk. Up the mountain there was literally no one

[@newyorkeranew]

OK, now it’s on my bucket list!!

[@Andrea-sg7qp]

I went at about 7am when it was raining and it was pretty empty. By the time I got back to the bottom there were literally hundreds of people pouring in, I'm not a morning person but it was worth the early start here.

[@MaliceAttention]

I thought they were going to give some boring advice such as telling tourists not to just take pictures of what's written on each gate's "column", but to rather take pictures of the whole scene, more like a panoramic view, since what is written on them is just the name of the company that made a donation to the place and not a sacred name or prayer. But, wow, even that would have been more helpful and interesting that the actual content of the video. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@C0ldIron]

I skipped over the main shrine and focused on the climb. Something that nobody mentions is their are several rest stops on the way up. I’ve cream, kahigori, and souvenirs are all available along the climb.

[@recordball]

I travel all over the world and most tourist are pretty lazy and just hang around the entrances and main sections of attractions. So many places I’ve found in the world by just being in good enough shape to walk further than most other people.

[@elliebue]

だからここは涼しいんです。うわー、このビデオが好きです。

[@PotentialTroll]

You’re making a video about a tourist spot, and saying it’s starting to feel touristy? Geniuses

[@xiaoka]

Insider tip - you can show up in the middle of the day on a week day and it STILL won't be crowded at the top.

[@anonymousg.5432]

JAPAN is TOP!

[@medusa301]

My wife and I met some locals who took us there at 9pm where there wasn’t a single soul. It was just perfect

[@Nelsea7190]

so damn true.. did the tourist area first trip (tour group). left feeling not satisfied. 2nd trip walked all the way up to the summit. so much better!

[@fraserwhiskard8308]

I was lucky enough to come here as an exchange student before the borders had opened to tourists. We arrived very early, and there was hardly a soul the whole way up the mountain

[@artigat1]

We got there around sunset and there was hardly anyone there. As it got dark and the lights came on casting eerie shadows it was beautiful. Took us about e hours to do the full walk up and around the mountain. The only problem was that as we left nothing was open for dinner or a drink.

[@Anomex_]

Thought this place was familiar and realised its in like 100 different animes

[@NoodleVentures]

We woke up at 5:30 and got there around 6:15 AM. It was a nice walk up to the shrine at the top of the mountain without having to walk through people's self designated photoshoots lol

[@imthebestpersonintheworldfr]

what is this place called again? is it torii gates?

[@Sedeerah]

Nothing more spiritual than filming there.

[@casperb4707]

We went at 8 in the evening and it was deserted.

[@user-by2sx9qk1e]

“it’s kind of a shame that it became so touristy” -Mrs. tourist 😂

[@dq2023]

As a tourist posting this you are part of your proclaimed touristy problem

[@chkntendis3326]

You aren’t visiting a very touristy place, you are the tourist.

[@lamba135]

Spiritual place with a shop every 50mts

[@pcbassoon3892]

I feel like you can't complain about something being touristy when you are there as a tourist.

[@ShomayRice-dc5pg]

the shrine is soo familiar

[@isaaclmonroe]

Me and my group arrived at around 4:50 am and it was very quiet and not crowded.

[@NollieFlipX]

"Don't make this mistake!" Then proceeds to walk in the middle of the bath beneath the toori... What is next? Climb stairs in the center?

[@lego174]

Fun fact: This is where the developers of the original SNES Star Fox got the idea for it being an on-rails shooter.

[@shirlynarag8331]

Thanks

[@Gamerwolf902]

It was so nice when I went it’s so pretty

[@riaconradt2554]

Climbing that mountain took us a long, long time. It is after all a mountain, so those with non-conditioned bodies beware. Sprinting to the top? A dream. (Also, define top. Top or to where there are very few tourists?)

[@fumizuki6550]

I wanna go there too‼︎ From Japanese😂

[@Grogu01]

That’s why we like to go the back way and go through the bamboo forest. Just be careful lots of spiders and bugs.

[@shaunpierce4174]

I went there in June, it was around lunchtime and very busy.

[@flstep835]

"What you don't see online..." proceeds to show it online

[@user-ww4ly8jh7d]

Bro im right here now:3

[@gunn1ng]

Hang a right on the dirt trail just after the beginning of the gates and walk up the mountain around the back via Shiragiku Waterfall (there is nobody on this trail and many sites to explore alone) and then walk back down through the gates is the actual tip. Rookies.

[@SmallPound]

That moment when you read your comments and realized that your voice overs were poorly scripted. Sheesh, the top comments are brutal.

[@cw442]

Time of year also has an effect.

[@UNC0MM0N]

A tourist posting his travels on IG at one of the most touristy places is complaining that it gotten so touristy …

[@Chronokatan]

We went at 5 and were all alone. Was amazing

[@Aquila1828]

Tatsächlich gibt es noch einen kleinen Pfad der irgendwo abzweigt und auf dem wirklich niemand mehr ist Da sind keine roten Tore mehr, und alle schreine sind mit Moos überwachsen War sehr schön, aber man muss gut wandern können

[@the.swift13]

In Japan right now! This would be helpful.. BUT THE DANG WIFI WOBT WORK SO I CANT WATCH IT 😭

[@zainmudassir2964]

I first saw this in anime wow

[@guysmith8375]

There’s also a back way down the mountain the other way

[@victorjackson150]

Hahaha. You thought 7am was early!!! Hahahha😂😂 that about the time I am headed to sleep. Go there at 3 am on a full moon. That’s the best.

[@nori4521]

"its quite a walk-" Europeans: you said walk?

[@pohau80]

Fushimi Inari is open 24/7 but the top isn't very brightly lit, I like to take pictures at the top because you don't see the commercials among other things engraved onto the red temple posts

[@somedood6621]

As a tourist, you’re not in traffic you are traffic.

[@Feliz7.]

😊