Heian Jingu Garden in Early Summer

 Heian Jingu Shrine is a huge shrine built in 1895 during the Meiji era (1868-1912) to coincide with celebrations marking the 1,100^th anniversary of the founding of Heiankyo. It is dedicated to Emperor Kammu, who relocated and established the capital to Heian (i.e. Kyoto) in 794 A.D.

A sunny day of the rainy season. The shrine garden神苑, which blooms from season to season, shows us flowers from early summer to early autumn this time.

 

At the front gate, a "chinowa" (a wheel of thatching) is set up. This is a June tradition at shrines in Kyoto. It is an event to purify the body and soul by going through a large ring made of thatch, and to pray for good health, protection from bad luck, and safety in the home.

The shrine building at the back of the huge plaza is a scaled-down reconstruction of the Chodo-in, the main office of the Imperial Household in Heian-kyo. The outer worship hall is a replica of Daigoku-den, the main building of Chodo-in. Otenmon and Daigoku-den are designated as National Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

The above is the free area. To visit the Shin-en, the garden, you need to pay a 600 yen entrance fee.

 

Monument in the Shin-en Garden

A guide map of the Shinto Garden. It is a huge garden with four ponds.

The route starts at the bottom left of the screen and goes clockwise. 

 

Hagi, the flower of early autumn, is blooming early.

Still young silver grass. The ears are shiny and beautiful.

 

Hydrangea and Nadeshiko

It is the oldest train in Japan. From the 28th year of Meiji.

Cool white Chinese lizard's tails

Water lilies. They're so mysteriously beautiful as if they're out of this world.

Irises. The irises are a little past their prime, but they are still showing us the fresh blue and purple colors that are typical of early summer.

There is a stepping stone bridge named Garyu-bashi (i.e. lying dragon’s bridge). Let's cross here.

 

Oh, the water lilies again.

The building on the right is the Shobikan (noble guest house) and the long and narrow building on the left is the Taiheikaku (bridge hall). In the background is the borrowed scenery of Higashiyama. It's a very atmospheric view, but unfortunately, it started to get cloudy around here... It's supposed to rain later today.

View of the bridge hall from the side and from the front

If you feed the carp from the top of the bridge hall, they will flock to you. Unfortunately, they were not Nishikigoi, but black carp.

Shobi-kan as seen from the bridge hall.

This took us all the way around the garden. I was able to see many flowers unexpectedly.

 

Heian Jingu Shrine is currently under a state of emergency, so visiting hours have been shortened.

Visiting hours to whole shrine : 6:00 - 16:30

Entrance to the Shin-en Garden: 8:30-16:00 (normally 17:30)

 

Heian Jingu Shrine Garden

The Heian Jingu Shrine Garden, widely known both inside and outside Japan as one of the most representative Japanese gardens of the Meiji era, consists of four gardens surrounding the shrine building: East, Center, West and South. It is a vast pond garden with a total area of about 33,000m2, and was created by the famous landscape architect Ogawa Jihei VII.

(From the website of Heian Jingu Shrine)

http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/