Why does this street in Japan look like an endless tunnel of red gates: The fascinating story behind thousands of vermilion ‘torii’ | World News

Image: Japan National Tourism Organisation

Few places in the world are as instantly recognisable as the seemingly endless tunnel of brilliant red gates winding through a forested hillside in Kyoto, Japan. To first-time visitors, it can appear as though an ordinary street has been transformed into a glowing crimson passageway stretching into the distance. In reality, these striking structures are torii gates, sacred entrances marking the transition from the everyday world into a space dedicated to the Shinto faith. Far more than a beautiful tourist attraction, each gate represents an act of gratitude, devotion and cultural tradition that has continued for centuries. Their vivid colour, remarkable number and spiritual symbolism combine to create one of Japan’s most photographed and meaningful landscapes.

What are Japan’s red torii gates and why are there thousands of them?

According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, the famous “tunnel” of red gates is located at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, the head shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity traditionally associated with rice, agriculture, prosperity, business and success.A torii marks the entrance to sacred ground. Passing beneath one symbolises leaving the ordinary world behind and entering a place where the divine is believed to reside.Unlike the solitary torii found at many shrines across Japan, Fushimi Inari Taisha contains around 10,000 gates lining several kilometres of mountain trails. Rather than being constructed all at once, they have accumulated over many generations through individual donations.According to the official shrine:“Torii gates are dedicated by worshippers as a token of gratitude for wishes fulfilled or in the hope that their prayers will be answered.”Each donated gate bears the name of the individual, family or company that sponsored it, along with the date of its dedication. Today, businesses from across Japan continue this centuries-old tradition, believing that honouring Inari will bring prosperity and commercial success.

Why are the torii gates painted bright red and who donates them?

One of the first things visitors notice is the gates’ striking vermilion colour, often mistaken for ordinary red. In Japanese culture, vermilion has long been associated with protection, vitality and the power to ward off misfortune.Historically, the pigment was made using cinnabar, a naturally occurring mineral containing mercury sulphide. Besides its brilliant appearance, it was believed to possess preservative qualities that helped protect wooden structures from weathering, insects and decay.Japan’s Public Relations Office notes that vermilion has traditionally been used on shrines and temples because of both its cultural symbolism and practical durability.Every torii at Fushimi Inari is funded through private donations rather than public money. Individuals, families and corporations commission new gates after prayers have been answered or as an expression of continued devotion. Depending on their size, the cost of sponsoring a gate can range from hundreds of thousands to well over a million yen.Because donations continue today, the famous tunnel is not a static monument but an ever-growing pathway reflecting centuries of faith and community support.

Why do millions of visitors walk through Japan’s iconic red gate tunnels?

Although the vermilion gates have become one of Japan’s most photographed landmarks, they remain an active place of worship rather than simply a tourist destination.The mountain trail extends roughly a few kilometres, leading visitors through thousands of torii, smaller shrines, stone fox statues and peaceful woodland before reaching the summit of Mount Inari. The foxes, known as kitsune, are regarded in Shinto tradition as the divine messengers of Inari and often hold symbolic objects such as keys to rice granaries in their mouths.Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) considers Fushimi Inari Taisha one of Japan’s significant shrines where millions of people worship every year, especially during New Year celebrations.Passing through the endless number of gates generates the rhythm of a certain visual pattern. Because of the sunlight shining through the gaps between each of the torii, the path looks like a lighted tunnel, and that is why the shrine became one of the most famous travel spots in the whole world. However, for some visitors, it is more than just taking photos; it is a way to meditate through each gate.This seemingly unbelievable street covered by thousands of vermilion gates actually turns out to be the embodiment of Japan’s spiritual legacy. Each torii is a symbol of prayer, a realisation of a desire, or simply a thankful gesture made to Inari through all the centuries. The combination of their bright colour, their symbolic meaning, and the amazing size makes a humble mountain road one of the most significant cultural landscapes in the world. Remember, the next time you see pictures of this popular “red tunnel”, that every single gate has its own tale to tell.