Heian Shrine is one of the most beautiful and imposing Shinto shrines in Kyoto, and visiting is free of charge! With a giant torii gate that stands almost 25 meters high and next door to Okazaki Park, Heian Shrine is hard to miss and definitely worth visiting on any trip to Kyoto!
About Heian Jingu Shrine
Officially called Heian Jingu Shrine, this shrine is relatively new for Kyoto. It was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the ancient capital city of Heian, which is now known as Kyoto.
Built as a partial recreation of the Heian Palace of old, it is 5/8th scale in length and has one of the largest torii in Japan which stands at just under 25 meters tall. The forecourt of the shrine is very wide and covered with gravel.
Heian Shrine is now very popular for weddings, so keep an eye out on your visit, and you just might see a newlywed couple walking around the shrine precincts. But please be respectful if this is the case and give the wedding procession space and privacy.
If you visit Kyoto in the latter half of October, make sure to stop by Heian Shrine on the 22nd, as you can witness one of the most important festivals of Kyoto: the Jidai Matsuri. This festival is held to celebrate the founding of Kyoto by Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei.
Visiting the Heian Shrine Garden
Behind the main buildings of Heian Shrine, you can find a beautiful garden that holds many old traditional buildings, ponds, and plants. This Japanese-style garden takes up around 33,060 square meters, about half of the land area of the shrine itself.
It is said that the garden took over 20 years to be completed by a famous gardener called Ueji. It is also home to rare plants and turtles that you can feed with food sold at the garden for a nominal fee.
The Famous Heian Shrine Cherry Blossoms
The best time to visit the Heian Shrine garden has got to be spring. The main reason for this is due to the many beautiful weeping cherry trees in the garden that makes it one of the top spots in Kyoto to view cherry blossoms. The best time to visit is usually around the middle of April, but the blooming period can change from year to year, so make sure to keep your eye on out on the sakura forecast!
Opening Hours
Heian Shrine Hours and Information
Once you reach Heian Shrine, you can enjoy the grounds of the shrine for free and say a prayer or pick up one of the charms and talismans on sale in the precincts.
Heian Shrine is officially open from 6:00 am in the morning until 5:30 pm, though closing times depend on the time of year. From February 15th to March 14th and the month of October, it closes at 5:30 pm. From March 15th to September 30th, it closes at 6:00 pm. From November 1st to February 14th, it closes at 5:00 pm.
Reception for the shrine for prayers, etc. generally opens at around 9:00 am. No reservations are necessary, but you will need to speak with the staff for further guidance.
Garden Hours and Information
Unlike the Heian Shrine itself, access to the garden costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Much like the hours at Heian Shrine, the opening and closing times also vary with the season.
From March 1st to March 14th and the month of October, the garden is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. From March 15th to September 30th, the garden is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. From November 1st until the end of February, the garden is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Final entrance to the garden is closed off 30 minutes before closing.
Access
Getting to Heian Shrine is pretty easy if you are starting from Kyoto Station. Just hop on the Karasuma subway line and head to Karasuma Oike Station, which takes about 5 minutes and is only 3 stops away.
From Karasuma Oike Station, transfer to the Tozai Line and take the train heading to Rokujizo. It takes about 4 minutes and 3 stops to reach Higashiyama Station, where you can walk to Heian Shrine in under 10 minutes.
Information
- Name: Heian Jingu Shrine
- Street address: 97 Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8341
- Access: A 5-minute walk from Higashiyama Station via the Tozai Line
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