Discover the Fushimi Inari area: between torii gates and sake
- Published on : 15/06/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Le quartier de Fushimi
@Unsplash
South of Kyoto, the Fushimi district is often associated with the famous shrine of red torii gates, Fushimi Inari Taisha. However, the area also features beautiful temples, historic sake breweries, and numerous sites connected to Japan’s feudal history. Discover Fushimi beyond the torii gates with Japan Experience!
Fushimi Inari Taisha: the beating heart of the district
Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines. Dedicated to the deity Inari, associated with harvests, it is renowned for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that form paths winding through Mount Inari.
The full ascent takes around two hours, but many visitors stop at the first section, where the torii create an enchanting atmosphere, especially early in the morning and late in the day, when the crowds have left. At the summit, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Kyoto.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0882
Opening hours: open 24/7
Fushimi Inari Taisha
@Unsplash
Fushimi Castle: a centuries-old relic of a glorious past
Fushimi Castle (Fushimi Momoyama-jō), largely gone today, played an important role at the end of the 16th century. Built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful warlord, it served both as a residence and a strategic fortress for the region.
Although only traces and partial reconstructions remain, the site helps visitors understand the military and political importance of Fushimi during the era of clan wars.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 45 Momoyamachō Ōkura, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0853
Opening hours: daily, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Château de Fushimi Momoyama
@Unsplash
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Discover the history of sake in the district’s museums
Gekkeikan Okura Kinenkan
The Gekkeikan Okura Kinenkan Museum is housed in a former sake brewery, one of the most famous in Japan. Fushimi is known for the quality of its water, which very early on encouraged the development of sake production.
The museum retraces its history through ancient tools, traditional buildings, and explanations of brewing methods. The visit often ends with a tasting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 247 Minamihamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8660
Opening hours: daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Musée du saké Gekkeikan Okura
@gekkeikan.com
Kizakura Kinenkan
The Kizakura Kinenkan (Kizakura Kappa Museum) belongs to another major brewery in the district. It offers insight into the world of sake, but with a more modern and interactive approach than the nearby museum.
What’s on the program? Exhibits on fermentation, related products, and craft beers (sometimes). It’s an interesting complementary stop to better understand the economic importance of sake in Fushimi.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: Shioyamachi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8046
Opening hours: daily, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on Tuesdays
Musée Kizakura
@kizakura.co_.jp
Visit and sake tasting at Matsumoto Sake Brewery
Matsumoto Sake Brewery is a historic brewery that is still in operation. While the site is less touristy than the nearby museums, it offers insight into the daily work behind sake production and its direct connection to Fushimi’s water.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 7 Yokooji Misudaikokucho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8205
Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed on weekends
Lunch break at Torisei: a brewery turned restaurant
Torisei is a former sake brewery that has been converted into a restaurant specializing in chicken and sake. The venue preserves the traditional architecture of Fushimi’s historic warehouses, and people come here to dine while enjoying the timeless atmosphere of this production district.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 186 Kamiaburakakecho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8047
Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., closed on Mondays
Sake
@Unsplash
Teradaya Inn: a historic inn full of charm
Teradaya Inn is a historic inn, famous for its connections to the final days of the shogunate. It is particularly associated with the reform movements of the 19th century.
The building offers insight into the lives of travelers and samurai of the time. It is an important place for understanding Fushimi’s political role at the end of the Edo period.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 263 Minamihamacho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8045
Auberge Teradaya
@Wikimedia, libre de droits
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Gokonomiya: the shrine of water
Less well known than Fushimi Inari Taisha, Gokonomiya is a shrine associated with water, the central element of the district. Everything here revolves around the spring: the water that flows within the shrine grounds is the same that has supplied the area’s sake breweries, and people still come to fill their bottles on site.
The shrine is also associated with purification and protection, particularly against illness. The atmosphere is peaceful, with few visitors, which contrasts with the busier sites in the surrounding area.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 174 Gokogumonzencho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8039
Opening hours: daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Gokonomiya
@Wikimedia, libre de droits
Daigo-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site
This large Buddhist complex, located slightly outside Fushimi, was founded in the 9th century. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is divided between a lower, easily accessible area and a historic sanctuary nestled at the top of a mountain.
The site is home to more than 100,000 cultural assets, including its famous five-story pagoda completed in 951, the oldest surviving wooden building in Kyoto. Today, the temple is admired for its gardens and their seasonal beauty during cherry blossom season and in autumn, when the maple leaves (momiji) turn vibrant colors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 22 Daigohigashiojicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 601-1325
Opening hours: daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Daigo-ji
@Patrick Vierthaler on Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
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