Heian Shrine, Kyoto: Hours, Garden Fees and Jidai Matsuri

Heian Shrine is in Kyoto's Okazaki area, in Sakyo Ward. It was built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of Heian-kyo, the old imperial capital, and it enshrines Emperor Kanmu, the first emperor of the Heian period, and Emperor Komei, the last emperor to rule from Heian-kyo. The shrine's own English text describes it as a 5:8 scale recreation of the Chodoin, the state hall of the imperial palace. It also has four connected gardens behind the halls.

When to Go

The gate opens at 6:00 a.m. The garden desk opens at 8:30 a.m. Closing times change with the season, according to the shrine's notice: March 1 to September 30, the shrine closes at 6:00 p.m. and garden admission ends at 5:30 p.m. In October the shrine closes at 5:30 p.m. and garden admission ends at 5:00 p.m. From November to the end of February the shrine closes at 5:00 p.m. and garden admission ends at 4:30 p.m.

The garden has cherry trees in each of its four sections that bloom mostly in April, and irises, azaleas, wisteria and water lilies at other times, according to the shrine's English text. It lists about 1,000 kakitsubata irises blooming around the Middle Garden pond in May. Read Kyoto in Spring for how this fits with other blossom stops.

The shrine's largest event is the Jidai Matsuri on October 22, when a procession in period costume travels from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the shrine and starts at noon. On that day the garden is open for admission only from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., according to the shrine. See Kyoto in Autumn for the rest of the season.

Practical Information

• Shrine hours: the gate opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. (March 1 to September 30), 5:30 p.m. (October) or 5:00 p.m. (November to February).
• Garden hours: 8:30 a.m. until 30 minutes before the shrine closes (5:30, 5:00 or 4:30 p.m. by season).
• Garden admission: ¥600 for adults and ¥300 for children up to junior high, free for preschoolers, according to the shrine's FAQ. The garden is entered from within the courtyard. The shrine offers free garden admission on two days a year, in early June and on September 19.
• Grounds: the shrine's pages list a fee only for the garden.
• Time needed: the shrine says the gardens can be covered in about 40 minutes if time is limited.
• Getting there: the shrine lists Higashiyama Station on the Tozai subway line, a 10-minute walk from Exit 1. The Keihan line's Sanjo and Jingu-Marutamachi stations are a 15-minute walk. City buses 5, 100 and 110 from Kyoto Station stop at Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan-Heian Jingu-mae, then walk 5 minutes north. The ride takes about 30 minutes. See Getting Around Kyoto.
• Parking: the shrine has none. Paid lots nearby, including the Okazaki Park lot, can be busy, and the shrine recommends public transport or a taxi.
• Accessibility: wheelchairs and strollers can enter, but the shrine warns of steps and stairs.
• Rules: eating and drinking in the grounds is not allowed in principle. Photography is allowed except from the Daigokuden toward the main hall, and commercial photography is not allowed. Drones are banned without permission, and tripods are charged at the garden entrance and banned in cherry season (late March to mid-April) and on free days. Pets may not be walked in the grounds, though you may carry one or use a cart. Assistance dogs are allowed. There is no free Wi-Fi, and signs in English, Chinese and Korean are posted in several places.
• Amulets and goshuin: amulets are available at the Daigokuden and Otenmon offices. A goshuin costs ¥500.

What to See

The Halls and the Courtyard

The halls are arranged symmetrically around a large gravel courtyard, and the shrine says the vermilion buildings stand out against the white gravel. The Daigokuden, the outer worship hall, and the Otenmon Gate are Important Cultural Properties, as are the Soryuro and Byakkoro towers and the Ryubidan platform. The main hall burned in 1976 and was rebuilt in 1979.

The Four Gardens

The garden has four sections, West, Middle, East and South, covering about 30,000 square metres. The West, Middle and East gardens were designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, and the South Garden dates from 1981. The shrine describes them as a National Site of Scenic Beauty. Signs in English describe the plants and the history of the garden ponds, which draw water from a nearby canal.

Jidai Matsuri

The Jidai Matsuri is the shrine's best-known event. The procession of hundreds of people in costumes from the eighth to the nineteenth centuries starts at the Imperial Palace and ends at the shrine. Noh drama is also performed at night in June by torchlight, with tickets typically on sale from April. For manners at shrines, read Temple Etiquette in Kyoto.

History in Brief

The shrine was built in 1895, the same year as a major industrial exhibition in Kyoto, when the city's economy had weakened after the capital moved to Tokyo. In 1940 Emperor Komei was enshrined alongside Emperor Kanmu, and the shrine's buildings were extended. A fire in 1976 destroyed the main hall, which was rebuilt in 1979. Heian Shrine describes itself as a symbol of Kyoto's recovery.

Questions Visitors Ask

Is Heian Shrine free?

The shrine's pages list a fee only for the garden. The garden is free on two days a year, in early June and on September 19.

How much of the day should I plan for it?

The shrine says the gardens can be covered in about 40 minutes if time is limited. The halls and courtyard take extra time.

Is it near Higashiyama Station?

Yes, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 1, but note that this station is not the one for Kiyomizu-dera. See the Higashiyama guide for the two clusters.

Can I take photos?

Yes, except from the Daigokuden toward the main hall. Commercial photography is not allowed, and tripods are banned in cherry season.