Highlights
- 31 Dec, 15:00: the year-end Great Purification (Oharae), followed by the New Year's Eve rite (Joyasai)
- 1 Jan, 6:00: the New Year rite (Saitansai) in the main hall, praying for a peaceful year
- 5 Jan: Oyamasai, main-hall rite from 12:00 and mountain rite from 13:30 at Gozendani
- Walk the Senbon Torii and on up Mt. Inari (press and guide sites say the grounds are open around the clock)
- JR Inari Station sits at the shrine entrance; the shrine car park is closed 30 Dec-6 Jan
Background & story
Founded in 711, Fushimi Inari heads roughly 30,000 Inari shrines, dedicated to the deity of rice, harvest and commerce; granted wishes are repaid by donating a torii.
Hatsumode 2027 at Fushimi Inari Taisha (68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto) centres on the New Year rite, which is held in the main hall at 6:00 on 1 January in the shrine's official calendar. Press and guide sites say the grounds are open around the clock, so you can visit from midnight (we could not find this wording on the shrine's own site). Entry is free. The shrine car park is closed from 30 December to 6 January, so plan to arrive by JR to Inari Station (right at the entrance) or by Keihan to Fushimi-Inari Station (5-minute walk). The shrine's New Year 2027 notices (counter hours, traffic controls, special trains) had not been posted as of 2026-10-13, so this page draws on the official information available that day and on last season (2025-26).
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year-end rite | 31 Dec, 15:00: Great Purification (Oharae), then the New Year's Eve rite (Joyasai) |
| New Year rite | 1 Jan, 6:00, main hall (Saitansai) |
| 5 January | Oyamasai (main-hall rite 12:00; mountain rite 13:30 at Gozendani prayer hall) |
| Visiting | Free; grounds open around the clock (per press and guide sites) |
| Venue | Fushimi Inari Taisha (68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-0882; tel. +81-75-641-7331) |
| Access | Next to JR Inari Station (Nara Line) / 5 min walk east of Keihan Fushimi-Inari Station / city bus Minami 5 to Inari-Taisha-mae, 7 min walk |
| Parking | Shrine car park closed 30 Dec-6 Jan (official) |
| Traffic | Last season, restrictions were planned 31 Dec-5 Jan and Honmachi-dori became pedestrian-only (press report); the shrine refers visitors to the Kyoto Prefectural Police |
Note: the period shown on this page (the night of 31 December to 3 January) is a guide based on the first three days of the year, not a period announced by the shrine.
From New Year's Eve into the New Year: the official rites
Taken from the shrine's December and January festival pages:
- 31 December, 15:00 - Great Purification of the year's end. The counterpart of the 30 June purification, cleansing the impurities of the second half of the year.
- 31 December - New Year's Eve rite (Joyasai). Held after the purification to give thanks for a safe year under the protection of Inari Okami.
- 1 January, 6:00 - New Year rite (Saitansai), main hall. A rite to celebrate the New Year and pray for the peace of the nation and a safe year, after which the priests visit the shrine's auxiliary shrines.
- 5 January - Oyamasai. Sacred ropes are hung early in the morning at the seven sacred sites; the main-hall rite starts at 12:00 and the mountain rite at 13:30 at the Gozendani prayer hall, praying for good harvests and prosperous family businesses.
Check the official festivals and events page for any change in 2027 (checked 2026-10-13).
Getting there: leave the car, take the train
The official access page (checked 2026-10-13) puts the shrine right next to Inari Station on the JR Nara Line (two stops, 5 minutes from Kyoto Station) and a 5-minute walk east of Fushimi-Inari Station on the Keihan Main Line. The Japanese version adds that the shrine car park is closed from 30 December to 6 January, and refers visitors to the Kyoto Prefectural Police for temporary New Year traffic controls.
Last season (2025-26):
| Item | What happened last season | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keihan, New Year's Eve | All-night service on Keihan lines, 18:00 on 31 Dec to 7:00 on 1 Jan | Keihan official release (11 Dec 2025) |
| Keihan, 1-3 Jan | New Year timetable; the 'Rakuraku' rapid limited express ran non-stop Kyobashi-Shichijo and did not stop at Fushimi-Inari | Same |
| JR Nara Line | No extra trains or later last trains planned (JR West ran no all-night service in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area) | Travel Watch (26 Dec 2025), Tetsudo Channel (28 Dec 2025) |
| Roads | Traffic restrictions planned 31 Dec-5 Jan; Honmachi-dori in front of the shrine pedestrian-only | Travel Watch (26 Dec 2025) |
Keihan and JR had not announced their 2026-27 holiday timetables as of 2026-10-13. Once they do, check Keihan's train information and JR West's official site.
Tips
- Entry is free. Hours for prayers, the amulet counter and goshuin over New Year are announced on the shrine's site; check the official site before you go.
- Beyond the Senbon Torii the path climbs Mt. Inari. At the end of last year (28 Dec 2025) the shrine warned visitors that wild boar had been seen on the mountain.
Many people in Kyoto see the year out at the Joya-no-Kane bell at Chion-in; in Osaka, see Sumiyoshi Taisha Hatsumode.
Checked 2026-10-13. Sources: Fushimi Inari Taisha official site, Keihan 2025-26 New Year release (Japanese), Travel Watch (Japanese).
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Right next to JR Inari Station (Nara Line, 5 min from Kyoto Station), or 5 min walk east of Fushimi-Inari Station (Keihan Main Line); city bus Minami 5 to Inari-Taisha-mae, then 7 min walk. The shrine car park is closed 30 Dec-6 Jan, so go by train. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families
Good to know
The shrine closes its car park from 30 December to 6 January (official access page), and last season the area around the shrine was due to have traffic restrictions from 31 December to 5 January (Travel Watch, 26 Dec 2025): go by train. For temporary New Year traffic controls the shrine refers visitors to the Kyoto Prefectural Police website. Hours for prayers and the amulet counter over New Year 2027 were not posted as of 2026-10-13; check the official site (https://inari.jp/en/). At the end of last year (28 Dec 2025) the shrine warned that wild boar had been seen on Mt. Inari.
Frequently asked questions
- What time can I visit Fushimi Inari for hatsumode 2027?
- The grounds are open around the clock, so you can visit from midnight on New Year's Eve onward (as listed by Travel Watch and Walkerplus). In the shrine's official calendar, the year-end Great Purification starts at 15:00 on 31 December, followed by the New Year's Eve rite, and the New Year rite (Saitansai) is held in the main hall from 6:00 on 1 January. Specific notices for New Year 2027, such as amulet counter hours, were not posted as of 2026-10-13; check the official site (https://inari.jp/en/).
- Can I drive there over New Year? Is there parking?
- The shrine's Japanese-language access page says the shrine car park is closed from 30 December to 6 January, so you cannot park there during hatsumode. Last season (2025-26) traffic restrictions were planned around the shrine from 31 December to 5 January, with Honmachi-dori in front of the shrine made pedestrian-only (Travel Watch, 26 Dec 2025). For temporary traffic controls the shrine refers visitors to the Kyoto Prefectural Police website. Go by train.
- How do I get there by train, and are there special New Year services?
- JR Inari Station on the Nara Line is right next to the shrine (5 minutes from Kyoto Station), and Fushimi-Inari Station on the Keihan Main Line is a 5-minute walk east (official access page). In Keihan's official release for last season (2025-26), Keihan lines ran all night from 18:00 on 31 December to 7:00 on 1 January, with a New Year timetable on 1-3 January. The New Year 'Rakuraku' rapid limited express ran non-stop between Kyobashi and Shichijo and did not stop at Fushimi-Inari. On the JR Nara Line, no extra trains or later last trains were planned last season, according to press reports (Travel Watch, 26 Dec 2025; Tetsudo Channel, 28 Dec 2025). Keihan and JR had not announced their 2026-27 holiday timetables as of 2026-10-13; check each operator's official site (Keihan: https://www.keihan.co.jp/traffic/).
- Are there New Year events after the first three days?
- Yes. On 5 January the shrine holds Oyamasai: in the official calendar the main-hall rite starts at 12:00 and the mountain rite at 13:30 at the Gozendani prayer hall. Early that morning sacred ropes are hung on the fences of the seven sacred sites, and prayers are offered for good harvests and prosperous family businesses. Check the official calendar (https://inari.jp/rite/) for any change in 2027.
- Is there an entry fee?
- Entry to the grounds is free. Offerings for prayers, goshuin and amulets vary, and New Year counter hours had not been posted as of 2026-10-13, so check the official site (https://inari.jp/en/).
Getting there
Fushimi Inari Taisha — 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto