Fushimi Inari Hidden Hiking Tour (Private Option Available)
Description
Winner of TripAdvisor's "Best of the Best 2025" (Top 3 in Japan). Don't just take a photo with a crowd—experience the true silence of Fushimi Inari. This 3-hour hidden hiking tour takes you off the beaten path to explore Kyoto's authentic nature. 1. Escape Overtourism : We start one station away from the crowded main entrance. Follow your local expert on a secret trail used only by locals, avoiding the massive tourist crowds. 2. Ghibli-like Scenery : Hike through mystical bamboo groves and discover beautiful, tiny shrines hidden deep in the forest. You will feel the authentic Japanese spirit. 3. Perfect Torii Gate Photos : Because we take a hidden route, you will have the chance to see and photograph the iconic thousand Torii gates in a much quieter, peaceful setting. 4. Healthy & Refreshing Burn off those travel calories! This hiking tour in fresh nature is the perfect way to refresh your body and mind. (Requires walking shoes. No strollers.)
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pass by Tofuji and head to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Hike up the mountain through a hidden trail Crossing through a narrow mountain path, we will discover a natural bamboo forest, and a small Inari shrine hidden from tourists. Fushimi Inari's main entrance is hard to navigate due to a lot of people, but by walking through the mountains, we will see Fushimi Inari from a new perspective, away from the crowd. Crossing a narrow mountain path, we will discover a natural bamboo forest, and a small Inari shrine hidden from tourists. Fushimi Inari's main entrance is hard to navigate due to a lot of people, but by walking through the mountains, we will see Fushimi Inari from a new perspective, away from the crowd.
See the castle from the top of the mountain After enjoying the breathtaking view from the top of Fushimi Inari This castle was built by Hideyoshi and rebuilt by Ieyasu, and after Fushimi Castle was rebuilt, peach trees were planted there by the Genroku era, and the area became known as Momoyama, and eventually Fushimi Castle became known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi Momoyama Castle.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This hike is not super difficult, approximately 7km in total. But it is not a simple walk and does take some effort. We would not recommend it for people who have trouble walking or are not in a regular condition. We take regular stops and can do extra stops if needed.
- As the ground can be slippery, you need to come wearing shoes with good grip.
- There may be mosquitoes and bugs as the group will hike in the mountain, so we strongly recommend to wear long sleeve shirt and long pants.
- The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.
- Summer in Japan is very hot and humid, so we recommend that you bring water and wear a hat to prevent heat stroke.
- Please note that the hiking trail can become slippery and dangerous during heavy rain. If the weather conditions are severe on the day of the tour, we may change the route from the hidden hiking trail to the main sightseeing route through Fushimi Inari Taisha for safety reasons. Thank you for your understanding.
Reviews(1,915)
Akira-san was an exceptional guide for our visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine. He thoughtfully explained Shinto culture and traditions in a clear and engaging way, which really deepened our understanding of the site. He also took the time to show us the takigyo (waterfall purification) location—an insightful and meaningful stop that many standard tours overlook. Instead of the usual crowded path, Akira-san led us along a more scenic and peaceful route to the shrine. It made the hike so much more enjoyable and allowed us to truly appreciate the atmosphere. What stood out most was his compassion and attentiveness: he carefully adjusted the pace so everyone in the group could keep up and feel comfortable throughout the walk.
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that Akira made your visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine such a memorable experience. We’re especially happy that Akira’s thoughtful pacing and attentiveness helped everyone feel comfortable and enjoy the hike at their own pace. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience!
Naomi gave us a great tour of the Fushimi Inari, taking us in the back way so we got to experience the tori gates and shrines without the crowds. The hike was strenuous, but she was patient with our kids (8, 11, and 13) and built in plenty of breaks for cold drinks, bathrooms, and ice cream. I'm so glad we had this private tour with her- it was totally worth it and turned out to be my husband and my favorite part of our Japan trip. And she recommended an incredible ramen place for lunch after!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Naomi made your experience so special. It’s great to know that you enjoyed exploring the quieter paths and experiencing the torii gates and shrines away from the crowds. We’re especially happy that Naomi was able to adjust the pace for your family and make sure everyone had plenty of breaks along the way. We hope to welcome you and your family back to Japan for another memorable adventure!
Before our hike, we decided to check out the main train early and walked around and thought we saw most of it, but after meeting up with our tour guide, he showed us so much more we didn’t expect he shared the backstory behind the Japanese religions, the details of the Shinto gods and why the shrines are designed the way that they are. We felt like we got an awesome experience that was very personalized for the price. Our tour guide was very kind and down to earth and asked a lot of questions about us and our travels and it was really nice to have a conversation with someone while hiking. Well worth it!!!
We were delighted with this excursion to Fushimi Inari in the company of Matt and Kazu. We really liked the route taken, we were able to enjoy the famous Torii away from the flow of tourists and in a really nice atmosphere!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Fushimi Inari tour with Matt and Kazu and appreciated the quieter route away from the crowds. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with them. We hope to welcome you again in Japan!
Pleasant experience out of beaten paths
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring places off the beaten path. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another unique and memorable experience in the future!
So grateful to have had a wonderful , patient and knowledgeable guide like Kana to show us the way around this mountain. We loved skipping the big crowds for a very intimate , thoughtful and local experience of these shrines and paths. Highly recommend it !
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the mountain and discovering its shrines and paths away from the crowds with our guide. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. Thank you for your recommendation!
A nice tour, seen a lot of beautiful things and the guide was prepared for everything and told us a lot about it.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour, saw many beautiful sights, and appreciated our guide’s preparation and insightful explanations. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Incredible, uncrowded hike to see this very famous shrine/mountain! Josh gave some great context and history to deepen the experience. Highly recommended!!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the peaceful hike and Josh’s insights into the history and significance of the shrine. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
Friendly guide with lots of knowledge.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with our guide. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in the future!
Beautiful walk through the forest with Kana. Definitely worth getting away from the crowds!
Thank you for your kind review! We're so happy to hear you enjoyed the peaceful forest walk with Kana. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to welcome you on another MagicalTrip tour soon!
