The Heian Shrine
Kyoto was the capital of Japan
and the residence of the Imperial family from 794 to 1867. Shortly
after the relocation of the capital in Tokyo, the Heian Jingu
Shrine, a 2/3 scale recreation of the Daigoku-den or original
Palace of the State Hall was erected as a memorial by the citizens of
Kyoto. The Shrine itself is dedicated to the first and the last rulers
of Japan during the period of Kyoto's supremacy. The sacred space of
the shrine is marked by the 24 meter high Torii Gate (photo to the
left). Before entering the shrine, ritual purification is completed at
the roofed water basin shown in the photo to the right. Entrance to the Outer
Sanctuary of the Shrine is gained through the vermillion-painted Ote-mon gate
shown in the photo to the lower left. Once through
the gate, visitors enter the central courtyard. Immediately upon entering is the East
Hall (to the left of the Ote-mon Gate, shown in the photo to
the right; a similar structure (the West Hall) is found on the 
other side of the
courtyard. The space between the 
building is enclosed by a high vermillion-colored
fence.
Just beyond the East Hall rises the colorful pagodas of
the Byakko-ro or White Tiger Towers. (photo to the left). The
tower sits on an elevated platform on the same level as the Daigoku-den-den
or Palace of the State Hall shown in the photo to the right.
The original Palace of the State Hall burned to the ground in 1177 and
was never rebuilt, while the replica caught on fire in 1976 and was
rebuilt three years later. To the left of the Daigoku-den-den
are a series of wish trees (Omikuji); people tie their wishes
(good and bad) to the tree after praying in the main sanctuary. Behind
the Daigoku-den-den is the
Honden or spirit hall
where the spirits of emperors Kammu and Komei dwell. People offer their
prayers in the Haiden or oratory hall of the
Daigoku-den-den. Completing the square of the Outer Sanctuary
is the Soryu-ro or Blue Dragon Tower; both towers date
from 1894. The photo 
at
the bottom right 
shows
the Blue Dragon Tower, while the photo below offers a close-up of the
Blue Dragon Tower's pagodas.
Heian Shrine is surrounded by a series of gardens, occupying approximately 33,000 square meters. Designated as a national spot, the gardens are representative of Meiji-era garden design. The different gardens ensure that the shrine has a character that changes with the seasons.
360 Video of Heian Shrine Courtyard
This 4K 360 degre video from Ocean Beyond the Border offers a panoramic view of both the courtyard and the buildings described above
