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Heian Shrine, Kyoto

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Heian Shrine - Kyoto
Heian Shrine
by ClareyD
Heian Shrine tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kyoto locals.
• 61 Photos
• 34 Reviews

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Heian Shrine: Heian-Shrine and Shin-en Garden
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  • Heian Temple - Front Gate - Kyoto
    Heian Temple - Front Gate
    by bkoon
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    Heian Shrine is a big temple (colour is striking red) near the Kyoto Modern Art Museum and Kyoto National Art Museum. The whole environment at Heian Shrine was very zen, meaning, empty spaces are all covered with stones. There is a very nice garden, the Shin-en Garden. There are 2 ponds with lilies and plants and there is even a pavilion where you can just sit down and relax. Newly weds love to go there for their photoshoots. So, if you would like to catch a glimpse of newly weds in their traditional wedding attire and their relatives and friends in their fine kimonos, I suggest you go to Shin-en Garden.

    Extracted from web-link:
    Founded in 1895 to commemorate Kyoto's 1100th anniversary. Dedicated to Emperor Kanmu who founded the capital and Emperor Komei the last Emperor to reign before the capital was moved to Tokyo. The Main Gate (Oten-mon) Great Hall of State (Daigokuden) and other brightly coloured buildings are smaller-scale replicas of buildings in the first imperial palace built 794. Shin-en a pond garden designed for strolling is a Place of Scenic Beauty and covers about 30000 square metres. It is divided into East Central West and South sections each of which has its moment of glory in a different season. Jidai Matsuri (festival) held October 22 is a panoramic procession of 2000 people wearing the costumes marking the periods of Kyoto's history.

    Entrance Fee : Free for Temple; 600 Yen for Shin-en Graden (as at 15 May 04)

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  • Address: 97 Nishi Tenno-cho Okazaki Sakyo-ku
  • Phone: 075-761-0221
  • Directions: City Bus ( bus number 5 or 100 from Kyoto Station): Kyoto-kaikan-bijutsukanmae -walk 3 min Subway Higashiyama Sta.-walk 7 min. Tozai Line (requires a transfer at Karasuma Oike Station from the Karasuma Line)
  • Website: http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/sight/new/view_sight.php?InforKindCode=1&ManageCode=1000203
  • Other Contact: Fax : 075-761-0225
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    Heian Shrine: Heian Jingu Shrine
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  • Main Gate
    Main Gate "Otemon" - Heian
    Jingu Shrine
    by naruto
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    The Heian Jingu Shrine is a popular tourist photo-op and landmark in Kyoto, and was built in 1195 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto.

    The shrine's brightly colored red roof is very majestic, and prominent from afar. A very high 24-meter tall Torii Gate marks the vicinity of the Heian Jingu Shrine, straddling the road leading up to the shrine.

    Within its grounds is a beautiful garden behind the shrine with many weeping cherry trees. There is an entrance fee to the garden and because of this, not many people was able to have the opportunity to view the beauty of it. But less crowds is also a fortunate thing, no?

    Also, near the Heian Jingu Shrine are many other tourist attractions like the Municipal Art Museum and the National Modern Art Museum, which are just now the street from it.

    For hours and entrance fees (for garden only), please refer to the website listed below.

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  • Address: Nishi Tennocho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN
  • Directions: From JR Kyoto Station take City Bus 5 or 100 to "Kyoto Kaikan Bijitusu-kan Mae". Stop will be announced in Japanese & English.
  • Website: http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/index_e.html
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    Heian Shrine: Visit the Heian Shrine
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  • The Inner Court at the Heian Shrine - Kyoto
    The Inner Court at the Heian
    Shrine
    by joiwatani
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    On our first day in Kyoto, my sisters and I decided to explore the templel that is very close to the main bus stop. First stop? It was the Heian Shrine. We just followed the flow of people going to the shrine. You can't really missed it. This structure was built in 1895 on the occasion of the 1,100th anniversary of the Heian Capital foundation. It is known to be built in dedication to the last Kyoto emperors: Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.

    The shrine has an inner court where there are more structures to see.

    The admission to the temple is free.

    We visited the temple in the fall (November 2007) and I heard that the shrine is really beautiful in spring time because of the cherry blossoms. The shrine has a garden with weeping cherry blossoms!

  • Address: Kyoto, Japan
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    Heian Shrine: Explore Heian Shrine's gardens.
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  • The gardens of Heian shrine complex are stunning in spring. Cherry blossom literally cascades from the trees and special frame work structures built around the cherry trees. The ponds and streams add to the beauty of the gardens. There is a picturesque covered bridge where you can sit and contemplate the gardens around you. This place is well worth the JPY600 entrance cost.

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  • Directions: To get to Heian, take bus #32 or bus #5. From the latter, get off opposite the Art Museum and walk through the park on the north side of the road.
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    Heian Shrine: There's a visitor's lounge at Heian Temple
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  • %cgThe signs to the visitor's lounge%c* - Kyoto
    %cgThe signs to the visitor's
    lounge%c*
    by joiwatani, 4 more photos
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    If you packed your lunch while visiting the Ginkakuji Temple, there's a visitor's lounge close to the stores where you can eat. It's located past the covered fountain- a place where people wash themselves before entering the temple. I saw some people there eating their lunches. There are tables and chairs where people just relax.

  • Address: Heaian Temple, Kyoto, Japan
  • Directions: At the Kyoto Main Bus Terminal (close to the Kyoto Mall), take the bus going to the Heian Temple. You can't miss the temple because it's on the main street of Kyoto!
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    Heian Shrine: Heian Shrine - stylized
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  • This is my fourth favorite Kyoto temple/shrine. There is a sense of stoicism and rituals here. Apparently it was built to commemorate 1,100 years of Kyoto as the capital. It is actually rebuilt in 1976 after a fire. Many students bought lucky amulets. I liked the garden at the back of the shrine.

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    Heian Shrine: Wonderful garden views
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  • The Heian shrine complex is easy to find and surely a top place to visit in Kyoto. For us the gardens were the highlight.

    The Shin'en has four gardens surrounding the main shrine buildings. The paths through the landscaped gardens are representative of Meiji-era (1868-1912) garden design. When we were here, in April, the blossoms were stunning. Cherry blossoms in the Minami Shin'en (South Garden) flow from the trees and over frame structures. The Higashi Shin'en (East Garden) is built around a pond called Seiho-ike, with great views from all sides. Two traditional style buidings make a nice backdrop for scenic photos.

  • Address: Nishi Tennocho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
  • Website: //www.heianjingu.or.jp/index_e.html
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    Heian Shrine: HEIAN SHRINE
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  • This is a scaled-down replica of the first Imperial Palace in Kyoto built by Emperor Kammu in 794 and dedicated to him, was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto.
    Beautiful shrine & gardens. The shrine itself is full of history. Very beautiful garden ... especially in the Spring

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    Heian Shrine: The Japanese children in Kimonos
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  • %cgMe and the cute Japanese girl%c* - Kyoto
    %cgMe and the cute Japanese
    girl%c*
    by joiwatani, 4 more photos
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    Whe we got to the temple, there were children with their parents taking their class pictures at the temple. There were photographers taking each children with their best kimonos. The costumes of the kids were so colorful that I can't help to ask permission from their parents to take pictures with their children. Most of the mothers I asked, just smiled and politely asked their children to pose a picture with me. The kids gladly nodded their heads and go some great pictures of them!

  • Address: Heian Temple, Kyoto, Japan
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    Heian Shrine: How did they put all the sand in the court?
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  • %cgJust how much sand in the court!%c* - Kyoto
    %cgJust how much sand in the
    court!%c*
    by joiwatani, 4 more photos
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    One can notice and wonder how the sand got into the hills of Kyoto! I was really surprised when I got inside the gigantic wooden doors of the Heaian Temple to see how much sand inside the court! The white sand gave a glow to the orange and green paint of the buildings inside. It is amazing how the Japanese people in the old days carried all those sand up the hill.

    That's a lot of sand to carry! I wondered why sand? Is there something particular about white sand in their quest for solace? How did the Japanese people dedicated this to the last emperor of Kyoto and made their people work hard to carry all those sand? Just a thought that got into me while I was inside the temple...

  • Address: Heian Shrine, Kyoto Japan
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