Japan 4th Day (Part 1) - Fushimi Inari Shrine

Visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine had been on our itinerary from the very start of our trip, but having always been scheduled at the end of very busy days, by our 4th day we still hadn't gone there yet.  Leslie suggested that we go there first thing in the morning instead, just before going to Osaka, and that worked out just great.

Here is the crowd at Kyoto Station at around 7:15 in the morning.


Luckily, our platform was on the opposite side of the arriving crowd.


We decided to grab some breakfast from this bakery.


Had lots to choose from.


Leslie picked the croquette on the left.  I had the ham and cheese thing on the top.  I also grabbed what I thought was a jam-topped bread on the bottom.  It wasn't jam but a fishy kind of paste.  It was HORRIBLE . . . especially when your taste buds are expecting something sweet . . . ptui, ptui, ptui.  Ack!


Space-saving countertops at McDonalds.


Pay phones.


Cigarettes and beer.


The shrine was just two stops away from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara line, and it was right across the street from the Inari Station . . . really easy to get to.








Up these steps and to the left were the gates that we were looking for.






This is the shot that I dreamed of getting while sitting at my desk at work.  Dream came true . . . sooooo happy!!!


The "climb" was very easy . . . pretty short and not steep at all.




I liked that heading downwards there was writing on the posts.  It made for a different look.




The souvenir shops had opened up by the time we got back down.






Next:  Osaka