Heian Shrine, Shinto shrine in Okazaki, Kyoto, Japan.
Heian Shrine is a Shintō house of prayer in Sakyō ward, Kyoto, entered through a tall red-lacquered gate structure with a curved roof. Within the compound, several halls surround a wide gravel plaza, while extensive gardens with ponds and traditional bridges extend behind the main buildings.
The compound was established to mark the 1100th anniversary of the city's founding, honoring the emperors who ruled from here. It was designed using plans from old records that show how palace buildings looked centuries ago.
The name Heian comes from Heian-kyō, the city's name from 794 until the capital moved to Tokyo. Weddings are still held in the Kagura-den, a hall modelled on the Chōdō-in's Chōshū-dō. On 22 October the Jidai Matsuri procession sets out from the old Imperial Palace and carries the mikoshi of Emperors Kanmu and Kōmei here.
The shrine stands in Okazaki, about 16 minutes on foot from Higashiyama subway station or 3 minutes from the Okazaki Park bus stop. The garden is a circuit-style pond walk entered for a fee, while the gravel courtyard in front of the halls is open without charge.
The construction follows a reduced scale of historical palace architecture, giving visitors a sense of how imperial compounds once appeared. Depending on the season, cherry trees, irises, or autumn foliage bloom in the gardens, drawing photographers and strollers.
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