Fushimi Inari to Chishaku-in, Kyoto: free self-guided walking tour
Quick answer. A free self-guided walking tour from Fushimi Inari to Chishaku-in in Kyoto: 3 stops, about 3.3 km, about 45 minutes of walking plus about 21 minutes of listening. Start at Fushimi Inari Taisha, head shrine of about thirty thousand Inari shrines, where thousands of vermilion torii climb the mountain. The shrine never closes, and the climb to the summit adds two to three hours. Walk north to Tofuku-ji, a Zen temple founded in 1236, and pass its Sanmon of 1425, described as the oldest Zen main gate in Japan. Finish at Chishaku-in, whose treasure hall keeps the gold-ground Cherry Blossom and Maple paintings, National Treasures tied to Hasegawa Tohaku.
- Stops:
- 3
- Distance:
- about 3.3 km
- Walking:
- about 45 min
- Listening:
- about 21 min
Two ways to do this walk
Kyoto with Mappu
Walk Mode, in the free Mappu app
It knows where you are, tells you about everything you pass between the stops, answers your questions and keeps you on the route. Your phone stays in your pocket.
A 2-hour live walk, €4.99.
50 credits from the Starter pack. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Self-guided audio walk. No guide accompanies you. Not affiliated with the sites.
Free: the audio guides
Listen to each stop’s audio guide in your browser and find your own way between the stops.
Walking directions in Google MapsFushimi Inari to Chishaku-in, Kyoto: how long does the walk take?
About 66 minutes in all: about 45 minutes on foot over about 3.3 km, plus about 21 minutes of audio at the 3 stops. Time inside the sites is extra.
Fushimi Inari to Chishaku-in, Kyoto: in what order should you visit the stops?
Follow the stops in this order: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Tofuku-ji, and Chishaku-in. The longest stretch between two stops is about 1.9 km, about 26 min on foot.
Route and map
Indicative route. While you walk, watch where you're going, mind the traffic and follow local signs and rules. The map is an aid, not a safety guide. Terms
Follow Mappu’s map: the route runs along the streets from stop to stop, and the stories keep playing as you walk.
To get to the first stop, or if you’re far from the route, Google Maps has walking directions through every stop.
Stop 1
Head shrine of about thirty thousand Inari shrines across Japan, founded in 711, where thousands of vermilion torii line the paths up Mount Inari.
about 7 min of audio
Next stop: Tofuku-ji · about 1.3 km, about 18 min on foot
Stop 2
A great Rinzai Zen temple founded in 1236, its name taken from Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji in Nara, with a Sanmon gate of 1425 that is a National Treasure.
about 7 min of audio
Next stop: Chishaku-in · about 1.9 km, about 26 min on foot
Stop 3
Head temple of the Chizan school of Shingon Buddhism, refounded in Kyoto after its mountain home burned in 1585, with gold-ground paintings of cherry and maple.
about 7 min of audio
The stop stories are AI-generated audio guides and can contain mistakes. Check opening hours and tickets on the official sites.
Planning a trip to Kyoto?
Get your plan
Mappu sketches your days free in the chat, no account needed. Then take the full plan with you:
- Weekend trip, €9.99: Your day-by-day plan plus 2 live walks
- Save your trip’s free guides on your phone in the Mappu app: they play with no signal
Before you go
- Check opening hours, tickets and access on each site’s official page before you go.
- Distances and times are estimates: the walking route between stops, from OpenStreetMap, at 4.5 km/h. Your route on the street may differ.
More walking tours in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, Kyoto
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5 stops · about 2.0 km · about 25 min on foot · about 32 min of audioArashiyama Bamboo Grove → Ōkōchi Sansō → Nonomiya Shrine → Tenryū-ji → TogetsukyoFree audio at every stop, or walk it with MappuSee the routeNijo Castle to Nishiki Market, Kyoto
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Plan more days in Kyoto
These day-by-day Mappu itineraries include Kyoto. The day links open the days that visit stops on this walk.
Useful for your visit
Tickets, tours and practical extras for this trip, from Mappu's partners.
Partner links (Airalo, Amazon, Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Klook, Tiqets, Trip.com, Viator, Welcome Pickups): if you book or buy through them, Mappu may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Route checked by Mappu on October 31, 2026. Stop descriptions come from each place’s published Mappu audio guide. Mappu is a Fenutech product.