The Heian Shrine is a feature on the itineraries of several Kyoto tours, which typically also cover UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kiyomizu Temple, and Nijo Castle, which dates back to the 1600s. The quiet, flat streets and cycle paths of the city lend themselves well to bike tours, while bus tours also provide a convenient option for time-pressed travelers.
Heian Shrine is easily reachable by public transportation from Kyoto station. You can take the number 5 or 100 bus, or take the Tozai subway line to Higashiyama Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the shrine.
During the famous sakura (cherry blossom) season, which falls in the spring (generally around the end of March and beginning of April, but check in advance), Heian Shrine is surrounded by powder-pink blossoms that make a great contrast to the vivid red structure. In October, the Festival of Ages sees the torii gate come to life with parades and celebrations.
With more than 1,600 temples, Kyoto has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture, making planning an itinerary for a short sojourn difficult. Some must-see temples include the Golden Pavillion (Kinkaku-ji), which is reflected in the pond below it; Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera), one of the oldest shrines in Japan; and Tenryu-ji, hailed as one of Japan’s five great temples.
