2012 Nov: Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Taisha

Destination: Fushimi Inari Shrine (also known as: Fushimi Inari Taisha, 伏見稲荷大社)
Travel Date: November 30, 2013

How to get there:
From KYOTO [ Departure track No.10 ] station, take line: JR NARA Line Local [5mins].
Drop-off at: INARI 稲荷駅（京都）station.  Fare is ¥140 (70php) with distance of 2.7 km
Then walk to: Fushimi Inari Taisha [3 mins], (always open)

As soon as you get out of Inari station, you will immediately see the tori-gate in front of the Shinto shrine.

A lot have been visiting the place since it is one of the cinematic locations of Memories of Geisha.

On the left side of the entrance is the water reservoir, on the lower level you can use the cup to get water for washing your hands.  On the upper level, you can get water to drink.

Japanese Pinky St. - while waiting on the Shrine

Walk a bit further and on the right side you can see the local preachers who will pray for your wishes and some would forecast your future endeavors.  If some are negative, they just leave the paper in the trees.

Not sure if some of the papers used for prayers are with fee or not.  Then the locals would go to the altar for the prayers and to pull the ribbons to cling on the bells above.

Small tori gates are sold for 850-1800yen (425-900php), they are also used to hang in your prayers and wishes.

The locals wearing kimono (traditional garment worn by men, women and kids).

There are small blocks where you can draw fox faces and write-up your prayers and dreams on it as well.  What are the foxes for?  There are fox statues in front of the shrines which are known to be messengers and guards of the temple.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is a trail of multiple tori gates.  Some are made of very old wood which actually requires maintenance.  On our way up, few locals are actually building up those newly brightly painted posts.

The place covers a lot of area, a long winding road of ups and downs.

This kiddie tourist is very much focused while taking her shots.

Due to weather, it is already too cold to even ascend more, so after reaching the pond area, we decided to turn around and took our way back.

 We had a chance to see group of youngsters taking their school photo, and actually had a chance to have class-picture with them.  As said by the uncle guide, kids mostly use the V-sign on photos which means "happy happy happy".

In the middle on this trip, it's good to see English wishes from other tourists - "World Peace!"