The hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 2-3 hours, however, visitors are free to walk just as far as they wish before turning back. Along the way, there are multiple smaller shrines with stacks of miniature torii gates that were donated by visitors with smaller budgets.

Walking to the summit of Mount Inari via the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine complex in Kyoto typically takes 2 to 3 hours for a round trip. The trail spans approximately 4 to 5 kilometers (2.5 to 3 miles) and involves thousands of vermillion torii gates and numerous stone steps. While the lower sections are flat and often crowded, the path becomes steeper and quieter as you ascend past the Yotsutsuji intersection, which offers a stunning panorama of southern Kyoto. Most casual tourists only walk to the first few scenic points, which takes about 45 minutes, but completing the full pilgrimage to the "Ichinomine" peak at 233 meters requires moderate stamina. In 2026, it is highly recommended to begin the hike either at dawn or in the early evening to avoid the intense midday crowds and to experience the eerie, spiritual atmosphere of the mountain shrines under the glow of stone lanterns.