It is an amazing experience to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha around five in the morning; it offers a special fusion of peace, spiritual atmosphere, and scenic beauty. It is strongly recommended to take a UBER out there and arrive as early as possible; the site is open 24 hours a day.

There were several reasons behind visiting at dawn, the shrine is free from the large crowds that typically gather during the day. This peaceful solitude allows you to fully appreciate the sacred atmosphere and connect more deeply with the space. Soft, early morning light casts an ethereal glow over the thousands of vermilion torii gates that line the path up Mount Inari. The interplay of light and shadow as the sun rises creates a magical, almost otherworldly experience.

The backdrop for everything is a pitch-black sky filled with glimmering stars. First, there is silence, but soon there is a cry, either from a bird or a monkey, alerting us to what is about to happen: the forest around us comes alive with the sound of birdsong, and everything awakens.

Japan is as usual hot and muggy, especially in the summer months. It is still 30 °C in the early morning, but it is comfortable. It is considerably more comfortable to trek up the mountain in the cooler weather if you visit at five in the morning.

The lack of tourists and the soft lighting provide the perfect opportunity for photography. The long corridors of Torii gates appear even more stunning without the distractions of a crowd. It’s interesting to note that, despite several cautions against engaging with monkeys, we never saw any of them—they were only audible, unlike the cats, who were present everywhere.

The intriguing light makes me wonder if it would be interesting to go there at dusk to maybe photograph the orange Torii Gates’ last glimmer.