Eric B.
Yelp
Gayle and I came here as part of a day-long bus tour from our Cruise ship. I think we scratched the scratch of the surface of this ancient political and spiritual center, and we really do need to come back.
Heian Jungu Shrine has a relatively short history, dating back just over a hundred years to 1895. The shrine was built on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the capital's foundation in Kyoto and is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned from the city, Emperor Kammu (737-806) and Emperor Komei (1831-1867). Heian is the former name of Kyoto.
A giant gate marks the approach to the shrine, around which there are a couple of museums. The actual shrine grounds themselves are very spacious with a wide open court at the center. The shrine's main buildings are a partial (and smaller) replica of the original Imperial Palace from the Heian Period.
Behind the main buildings there is an attractive, paid garden with a variety of plants, ponds and buildings. The garden's most striking feature are its many weeping cherry trees, which bloom a few days later than most other cherry trees, making the garden one of the best cherry blossom spots in Kyoto around the tail end of the season, which is usually around mid April.
Occasionally, the shrine's court is used for special events. Gayle and I even witnessed some pre-wedding preparations, including a radiant picture of the bride.