Ukiha City, located in the southeastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination where you can enjoy the area’s lush natural scenery, a variety of different seasonal fruits, as well as the famous Ukiha Inari Shrine, known for its photogenic red torii gates.
A whopping 91 red torii gates lead you up the stairway as you make your way up the side of the mountain, step by step, until you reach the shrine itself.
Once you reach the top, look back and you will be rewarded with a spectacular view! (There is a lookout point next to the shrine office and assembly hall.)
Here you can look out over the Chikugo Plains, the Chikugo River hot springs, and on a clear day, you can see the Harazuru hot springs and even as far as Amagi in the distance.
Take a moment here to catch your breath as you marvel in the healing serenity of this spectacular view.
Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes for the climb up the mountain through the torii gates.
Ukiha Inari Shrine is also known for its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
In spring, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Just past full bloom you can also enjoy the ethereal beauty of the petals as they begin to fall from the trees to the backdrop of the crimson color of the shrine’s torii gates.
Climbing up the side of the mountain through the nearly 100 torii gates one by one amidst such fantastic scenery makes for an experience like no other.
After cherry blossom season is over, you can enjoy a stroll in the refreshing spring breeze immersed in the radiant beauty of the spring leaves and the greenery of the Chikugo Plains.
Visit in autumn and you can take in the beauty of the changing colors of the leaves, which paint the nearby mountains a bright red hue for a short period of time.
Located in Jogahana Park in Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Ukiha Inari Shrine is also known as a local “power spot”, meaning a place of natural healing energy. With its rows of torii gates and spectacular views, the shrine has also become popular on social media in recent years, attracting a number of younger visitors as well.
Ukiha Inari Shrine is dedicated to three deities: the deity Ugamitama no Kami (also known as Inari Okami) from Fushimi Inari Shrine, the deity Oyamagui no Kami from Matsuo Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, and Sugawara no Michizane from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and is said to house the gods of business prosperity, abundant harvest, sake production, and health, longevity, and academics.
Ukiha City is also known as the “Kingdom of Fruits”, as you can enjoy a variety of different fruits year-round: strawberries in January, peaches and blueberries in July, grapes and pears in August, and persimmons in October.
Many local cafes offer seasonal fruit parfaits (such as parfaits with whole peaches on top) and fruit sandwiches made using local Ukiha fruit.
Be sure to check out some of the local cafes while you’re in the area!
About a 30-minute walk from Ukiha Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line

Ukiha Inari Shrine
Location: 1513-9 Nagaregawa, Ukiba-cho, Ukiha-shi, Fukuoka 839-1411
Phone number: 0943-76-3980 (Kanko Kaikan Kura)
https://ukiha-inari.jp/

Cover photograph provided by　福岡県観光連盟