#HeianJingū is a new shrine which is A replica of a famous Heian Period structure,Heian Shrine is a scaled-down reproduction of the original Imperial Palace first constructed in 794.
#HeianShrine was first built in the late nineteenth century and the present wooden structure dates from 1979 after a fire in 1976 destroyed the original structure. Its architecture has a distinctive Chinese influence noticeable throughout. Heian Shrine is an impressively large shrine with lots to explore from beautiful gardens and ponds to stunning seasonal sakura trees and momiji – the Japanese maple trees).
Unlike most ancient shrines in Kyoto, Heian Shrine was built relatively recently in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto as the (former) capital city of Japan. The establishment itself is not too far from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Though the exhibition complex was removed after the end of the fair, the shrine was still maintained and is dedicated to Emperor Kanmu, the 50th Emperor of Japan who oversaw the establishment of Kyoto in 794. Later Emperor Komei, the last Emperor to rule from Kyoto before the capital was moved to Tokyo, was also enshrined in Heian Shrine in 1940.
Visitors enter through the grand Ōtenmon Gate into the outer sanctuary, a sprawling open space surrounded by look-out towers with a large ritual hall directly ahead.
Heian Shrine’s Shin’en Garden, which consists of four distinct sections, The lovely Chinese-style garden behind the main shrine buildings to the left as you enter has a pond and covered wooden bridge and is meant to represent the kind of garden design that was popular in the Heian Period of Japanese history. The garden is divided in four sections: north, south, east and west and contains plum, cherry, iris, azalea, and lilies and is is particularly beautiful and famous for its cherry blossoms in spring and irises in summer.
The torii gate leading up to the Heian Shrine is actually one of the largest in the country, towering overhead at a height of about 24 meters. Heian Shrine is host to the grand Festival of Ages in October as well as many others throughout the year.Completed with special construction techniques to secure it against earthquakes, the stout legs of the gate are 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) in diameter. It is a popular photo spot, and anyone is bound to look small next to this famous structure!
The shrine is a replica of the Chōdō-in (Great Hall of State), the main administrative building of the Heian capital, its architecture sets it apart from shrines built in or modeled on later styles of construction, and has a distinctive Chinese influence noticeable throughout.
Alo Japan.