Yutoku Inari Shrine

Yutoku Inari Shrine, founded in 1687, is one of the three most prominent Inari shrines in Japan alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Kasama Inari in Ibaraki. The shrine's main hall is built on a dramatic hillside platform supported by tall wooden pillars, reminiscent of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera, and its vivid vermillion color stands out beautifully against the lush green forest. Visitors can climb stone steps through the shrine grounds to reach the Okuno-in inner sanctuary at the hilltop, where panoramic views reward the ascent. The shrine attracts around three million visitors annually and is particularly stunning during cherry blossom season and the autumn foliage period. A Japanese garden and museum on the grounds display historical artifacts and treasures donated to the shrine over the centuries.