Heian-jingu shrine
Heian-jingu shrine has colorful halls and beautiful gardens. Its main halls
represent 5/8 scale replicas of the first Imperial Palace built in Heian-kyo
(Kyoto) in 794 and convey the atmosphere of elegance of the Heian period
(794-1185).
The shrine is surrounded by beautiful chisen-kaiyu-shiki (pond-stroll)
gardens on three sides; Minami Shin-en (the south garden) on the west,
Nishi Shin-en (the west garden) on the north-west, Naka Shin-en (the middle
garden) on the north-east and Higashi shin-en (the east garden) on the
east.
History of Heian-jingu
Heian-jingu was founded in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of
establishing Kyoto as the capital of Japan. The shinto shrine originally
was dedicated to the 50th Emperor Kanmu who founded Kyoto as the capital
of Japan in 794 and later the 121st Emperor Komei, the last Emperor in
the capital Kyoto, was added for dedication.
How to get to Heian-jingu
20 minutes from Kyoto Station to Kyoto-Kaikan-Bijutsukan-mae bus stop by
Kyoto city bus No. 5 or 100 then three minutes on foot.
10 minutes on foot from Higashiyama station of subway Tozai line.
Hours and Admission
Except the gardens:
March 1 - 14 and September 1 - October 31: 6:00 -17:30
March 15 - August 31: 6:00 - 18:00
November 1 - the end of February: 6:00 - 17:00
Admission is free
Gardens:
March 1 - 14 and September 1 - October 31: 8:30 -17:00
March 15 - August 31: 8:30 -17:00
November 1 - the end of February: 8:30 -16:30
Admission:
Adults: 600 yen
Children: 300 yen
Click on a photo for full image.
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Daigoku-den in the middle and Byakko-ro (white tiger tower) on the left,
Soryu-ro (Blue dragon tower) on the right. The entrance to the gardens
is on the far-left corner.
May 1, 2009 |
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Torii gateway that was built in 1929. The reinforced concrete gateway is
24.2 meters high and 33 meters wide.
May 1, 2009 |
Oten-mon gate that was built in 1894. The two storied wooden gate
is 19.3 meters high.
May 1, 2009 |
Soryu-ro. This two storied structure was built in 1894.
May 1, 2009 |
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Gaku-den that was built in 1940.
May 1, 2009 |
Daigoku-den, the outer hall of worship. The biggest building of Heian-jingu
was built in 1894.
May 1, 2009 |
Temizu sho, an eastern washbasin that has a sculpture of a dragon.
May 1, 2009 |
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Temizu-sho, a western washbasin that has a sculpture of a tiger.
May 1, 2009 |
Green and pink cherry blossoms in Minami (south) Shin-en garden that was
laid out in 1981.
April 8, 2001 |
Nishi (west) Shin-en garden that was laid out by Ogawa Jihei (VII). He started the construction in 1895 and completed in 1913.
The pond is called Byakko-ike (white tiger pond).
May 1, 2009 |
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A waterfall in Nishi Shin-en garden.
May 1, 2009 |
Stepping-stones called Garyu-kyo (lying dragon bridge) in Naka Shin-en
(the middle garden). Ogawa Jihei (VII) laid out this garden at the same time as Nishi Shin-en.
August 23, 2003 |
A person walking on Garyu-kyo. The cylindrical stones of Garyu-kyo used
to be piers of Sanjo Ohashi and Gojo Ohashi bridges. The pond is called
Seiryu-ike (blue dragon pond).
August 23, 2003 |
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Sango-jima island in Soryu-ike.
May 1, 2009 |
A rocky stream between Naka Shin-en and Higashi Shin-en (the east garden).
May 1, 2009 |
Taihei-kaku, a roofed bridge over Seiho-ike (habitat of the phoenix) pond
in Higashi Shin-en. Ogawa Jihei (VII) laid out this garden from 1914 to 1926. One of hills in Higashiyama
is used as Shakkei (borrowed scenery).
May 1, 2009 |
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Taihei-kaku that was built in 1912 and moved to this place from Kyoto Gosho.
August 23, 2003 |
A stone bridge and an island in Seiho-ike.
May 1, 2009 |
Shobi-kan, a guest house, that was built in 1912 and moved to this place
from Kyoto Gosho.
April 8, 2001 |
