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Heian Shrine

Name: Heian Shrine
Address: 97 Okazaki Nishitennōchō, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8341, Japan
Rating: 4.3

4.3 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Place Of Worship・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Heian Shrine in Kyoto is a must-see! Built-in 1895, it celebrates the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto's founding. The entrance features a massive torii gate, one of Japan's largest. Inside, the main buildings are replicas of the ancient Heian Palace, showcasing classic Japanese architecture with striking orange and green colors.

The Heian Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei, symbolizing Kyoto's rich imperial history. The grounds are vast and include a beautiful garden. This garden is a highlight, especially during cherry blossom season. The sight of blooming trees over a tranquil pond is unforgettable.

Festivals at Heian Shrine, like Jidai Matsuri, draw huge crowds. This festival includes a grand parade with participants in historical costumes depicting Kyoto's long history. It's a lively and colorful event that brings the past to life.

Visiting Heian Shrine offers a mix of culture, history, and natural beauty. It’s a place where you can feel the spirit of ancient Japan while enjoying the serene gardens and impressive architecture.

Hours:

6:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

All Year

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Admission Fee:

Free (Heian Grounds)

600 yen (Heian Gardens)

Hours

Monday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 75-761-0221

Website

www.heianjingu.or.jp

The area

Address

97 Okazaki Nishitennōchō, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8341, Japan

Top ways to experience Heian Shrine

1hr and 40mins

Explore Kyoto: Skyhop Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket

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Kyoto's Past: A Cycling Tour of Historic Sites and World Heritage Zen Temple

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8hrs

Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Kyoto City

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What other travelers are saying about Heian Shrine

Beautiful shrine and well worth 600 yen to enter the gardens they were beautiful! Very peaceful and full of birdlife. Plenty of benches to take a rest and toilets throughout. The stepping stones are fun!

Fern Gleeson

Feb 24, 2025

Pretty temple with different types of stunning traditional gardens and serene scenery. A refreshing and calming escape amidst the bustling tourist areas! Although you need to pay to access the gardens (temple access is free), I highly recommend visiting. Definitely worth the price. I was there from 2 to 4:30 PM, and the gardens were quiet with very few visitors.

Zeline -zeline

Dec 20, 2024

Wonderful landscaped garden and pond. I happened to be here during Christmas, they have beautiful illumination at night for winter and it is absolutely breathtaking with the temple music, vapor effects and animated light shows. It is quite magical during the day and transforms into a fairy tale fantasy paradise at night during the illumination event.

L.R. Henry

Dec 24, 2024

This is my second visit, and I was so glad that I came back to see the garden with the stepping stones that were arranged like a dragon. The leaves were starting to change colors. Plus I came after 4 pm around sunset so the garden was quiet. The overall feel was peaceful and relaxing. It served as a much needed break from touring the hectic city all day.

AperolSpritz J

Nov 22, 2024

The entrance to the temple area is free but there is a 600 yen to see the garden and ponds. Came here during some special events; there were horses, old cars, and tons of people dressed up in old fashioned Japanese clothing and solders. Part of the temple was closed to avoid overcrowded. Garden seems to be in another world, not affected by the busy festival outside. The ponds are definitely beautiful. Lots of fish was and lotus flower. The tiny stream has tiny clams. I saw a kingfisher but it was too quick for me to take photos. There are long hallways and old buildings that they also reserved for weddings.