Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kyoto

It lives up to thy hype! Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most iconic spots in Japan and for good reason. This temple and hike is beautiful. Photos don’t do it justice. The hike took my family about 80 minutes total. We had a 6 year old and a two year old with us and both did well with all the stairs. My two year old did need to be carried from time to time, but mostly going downhill. I would say this is definitely a child friendly activity. The crowd levels were astonishingly lower than I expected. This lead to more time on the path alone and a more peaceful climb. ** I recommend bringing yen on the climb as there are plenty of places to buy bottle water, tea, and even ice cream at the view point. This temple is easily assessable by train and is located just outside of the station. **Disclaimer* My family and I went in spring of 2022 where Japan was still closed to tourist. If you are coming when the county is reopened be prepared for bigger crowds than I experienced

The walk up the mountain through the Tori gates is wonderful, and getting up early to beat the crowds is definitely worthwhile. There are lots of brilliant photo opportunities, and getting there early lets you get the best photos of the iconic gates. There are a few different routes to take, so you can make your visit as long or short as you'd like. Getting to the top in the heat can get uncomfortable though.