Is the summit worth it from Yotsutsuji?

The summit is about 25 more minutes uphill and the path is usually much quieter. The summit has only a partial view of the city, while Yotsutsuji already has one of the best views on the route.

Is Yotsutsuji good for sunset?

Yes, from late September to mid-March, when the sun sets within its west to south-west view. Bring a light for the walk down.

Is it safe to walk to Yotsutsuji at night?

The path is open 24 hours and there are usually other people up to Yotsutsuji. Above it the path is much darker with few people, so at night it is the sensible place to turn back; bring a light.

Is Yotsutsuji OK for kids?

It is 30–40 minutes up from the main hall on stone steps, and about 23 minutes back down on one timed walk.

Can you eat at Yotsutsuji?

Yes. Nishimura-tei at the crossroads serves udon, inari sushi and sweets. Its website lists Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00 and Sat, Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00, with last orders at 14:00 (checked 7 October 2026).

A shrine site about 50 m above Yotsutsuji, a minute or two on foot. From behind it you can see central and northern Kyoto, which is not visible from Yotsutsuji.

Route stop 07

How far up is Yotsutsuji?

About 30–40 minutes' walk from the main hall. A crossroads with one of the best views on the route, and a common place to turn back.

Go on or turn back?

If	Then
You came for the view, or you are short on time	Turn back here30–40 min up and about 23 min down (one timed walk): about an hour from the main hall, plus your stop.
You want quiet paths and the full loop	Go on over the summit (Ichinomine)About 25 min up to the summit; the loop brings you back here. The whole walk from the main hall is about 2 h 15 min and 4 km.
You are tired	Go back down the way you cameAbout 23 min to the main hall on one timed walk, past Mitsutsuji and Kumataka-sha.

The path beyond Yotsutsuji is usually much quieter than the gates below. There is a partial view of the city from the summit, not a wide panorama; Yotsutsuji already has one of the best views on the route. Times: owner (up), the Inari Hanei-kai (summit and loop) and one walk timed by a friend of this site (down).

See the summit guide See the peaks on the way to the summit Compare the three hike options and their times

Yotsutsuji · 四ツ辻 · Turn-back point

Crowd now	Compared with its usual week, shown once the page loads (Japan time)Usually much quieter than the main hall and Senbon Torii: the crowds in the gates below rarely carry all the way up here.
Walk from the main hall	About 30–40 minOwner; the Inari Hanei-kai gives 40 minutes.
Along the path	1.4 km from the Romon Gate1.5 km from JR Inari Station
Toilets	None mapped within 60 m
Vending machines	Yes, about 40 m away
Tea houses	Nishimura-tei (にしむら亭), 仁志むら亭, 奥村亭

Toilets, vending machines and tea houses within 60 m along the paths, as mapped on OpenStreetMap. Something not mapped may still be there.

See how busy Fushimi Inari is today, hour by hour

What you'll find here

Yotsutsuji means four-way crossing; English guides often call it the Yotsutsuji intersection. It is where the summit loop begins and ends: you can go round in either direction and come back here.

The open view over the city from here is one of the best on the route.

Kojinmine, just above

Kojinmine is about 50 m above Yotsutsuji, a minute or two on foot. Walk round behind its shrine and the view opens to central and northern Kyoto, which you can’t see from Yotsutsuji.

What you'll see

The view faces west to south-west, over the southern part of Kyoto. Central and northern Kyoto are hidden from here; for those, climb a minute or two to Kojinmine.

How you know you've arrived

01Benches at the crossroads.
02Nishimura-tei, the tea house right at the crossroads.
03Paths leaving in several directions: the two ends of the summit loop and the way you came up.

Sunset at Yotsutsuji

Sunset in November: 17:04–16:46 (JST)

In the west-south-west in mid-November.

Leave the main hall about 45 minutes before sunset. The walk up takes 30–40 minutes, so that leaves a few minutes to spare.

From late September to mid-March the sun sets within the view, which faces west to south-west. From late March to mid-September it sets further to the right, toward the north-west.

Sunrise is behind you, on the other side of the mountain, so Yotsutsuji is not a place for sunrise.

Bring a light for the walk down: it is dark soon after sunset. Nishimura-tei closes at 16:00, before sunset at any time of year.

Calculated for this spot, in Japan time, for a flat horizon. Hills on the horizon can hide the sun a few minutes earlier.

See the best time to visit, month by month See November at Fushimi Inari

Visiting at night

The shrine grounds and the mountain path are open 24 hours a day.

Up to Yotsutsuji there are usually other people about. Above it, the path is much darker, with few lights and few people. If it is your first visit, or you are on your own, Yotsutsuji is the sensible place to turn back at night.

Bring a light. The stone steps are slippery after rain.

The shrine has warned that wild boars have been appearing on Mt Inari (notice of 28 December 2025). The shrine’s rules ask visitors not to approach or feed wild animals, so keep your distance.

Nishimura-tei closes at 16:00. Vending machines are mapped about 40 m away along the path.

See the night guide: hour-by-hour crowds and what is open

How crowded does it get?

Our hourly data for this stop is thin, so we don't give busy hours for it. The "Crowd now" line above only says whether it is busier or quieter than its own usual week right now.

For the shrine as a whole: Best window: before 8:00 or after 18:00. Tuesday to Thursday mornings are the quietest.

See today's quiet hours

Tea houses nearby

Nishimura-tei にしむら亭
Hours Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00; Sat, Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00 (last orders 14:00)
At the crossroads, serving Kyoto-style udon such as kitsune udon, inari sushi, oyakodon and Japanese sweets. On the 1st of every month it opens 5:00–15:00 instead. No regular closing day, but it closes on some days without a fixed pattern. About 100 seats, including tatami seating. Its site is in Japanese only.
Hours as listed on Nishimura-tei website (Japanese), checked 7 Oct 2026

Questions about Yotsutsuji

How long does it take to get to Yotsutsuji?: About 30–40 minutes' walk from the main hall.
Is the summit worth it from Yotsutsuji?: The summit is about 25 more minutes uphill and the path is usually much quieter. The summit has only a partial view of the city, while Yotsutsuji already has one of the best views on the route.
Is Yotsutsuji good for sunset?: Yes, from late September to mid-March, when the sun sets within its west to south-west view. Bring a light for the walk down.
Is it safe to walk to Yotsutsuji at night?: The path is open 24 hours and there are usually other people up to Yotsutsuji. Above it the path is much darker with few people, so at night it is the sensible place to turn back; bring a light.
Is Yotsutsuji OK for kids?: It is 30–40 minutes up from the main hall on stone steps, and about 23 minutes back down on one timed walk.
Can you eat at Yotsutsuji?: Yes. Nishimura-tei at the crossroads serves udon, inari sushi and sweets. Its website lists Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00 and Sat, Sun and holidays 9:00–16:00, with last orders at 14:00 (checked 7 October 2026).
What is Kojinmine?: A shrine site about 50 m above Yotsutsuji, a minute or two on foot. From behind it you can see central and northern Kyoto, which is not visible from Yotsutsuji.

Sources

Facts are checked against these sources and written in our own words. Not affiliated with the shrine.

Last updated: 2026-11-10