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Heian Jingu Shrine

Kyoto was home to the Imperial family for over a thousand years. When the family moved its residence to Tokyo during the Meiji era, many of the ancient capital’s citizens naturally felt a bit jilted. In 1895, to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the city, they built a marvelous shrine, modeled on the ancient Imperial Palace. The shrine was built for the spirit of Emperor Kanmu, who brought the capital from Nara to Heiankyo and is revered, in the words of the shrine’s own literature, as the “ancestral god of Kyoto.” In 1940 the Emperor Komei, the last Emperor to have a permanent residence in Kyoto, was also enshrined at Heian Jingu.

Heian Jingu 2

In contrast to some of Kyoto’s other cultural attractions, few visitors will regard Heian Jingu as being overly subtle. The torii gate marking the approach to the shrine is 24 meters tall and decorated with the Imperial chrysanthemum, done in gold. Farther along, the Ote-mon, or main gate, is a scarlet structure two stories high and roofed in blue tile that is meant to resemble the Rashomon, the great gate that stood at the southern entrance to the ancient city. Beyond the gate a broad courtyard beckons, floored with white sand and surrounded by the buildings of the shrine, replicas of the original Palace built to two-thirds scale. A large garden on the grounds features three ponds and Chinese style bridges topped with phoenixes.

Built as a symbol of pride, both national and municipal, the shrine also hosts an annual event meant to restore pride after the capital was moved to Tokyo. The Jidai Matsuri, one of Kyoto’s three most important festivals, begins at the Imperial Palace and moves slowly through the streets before arriving at Heian Jingu. The festival is an incredible spectacle, with more than 2,000 participants dressed in costumes representing the city’s historical eras from earliest Heian to the close of the Edo period. It takes about five hours before the mikoshi, or portable shrines carrying the spirits of the two enshrined Emperors, arrive at Heian Jingu. Along the way there are several high points, including the appearance of many of the city’s most famous characters. It’s worth seeing if you’re in town, particularly if you’re interested in Japanese history.

>>Access
Nishi Tennocho, Okazaki, Sakyoku, Kyoto

Bus
JR Kyoto station===(City bus No 5, 15 min.)====Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan mae===(On foot, 1 min.)===Heian Jingu Shrine

>>Open Hours
6:00 - 18:00 (Summer)

Gate Closing
3/1-3/14 & 9/1-10/31   17:30
3/15-8/31                      18:00
11/1-2/28                      17:00
Admission to buildings
8:30 - 17:30 (Summer)
3/1 - 3/14 & 9/1- 10/31 17:00
3/15 - 8/31                     17:30
11/1 - 2/28                     16:30

>>Fees
For admission to buildings
Adult: 600 yen
Child: 300 yen

>>Map
Kyoto city map>>Click here to view.

>>Website
Heian Jingu Shrine Official Website (English, Korean)

                                                                       -Matt Mangham