Heian Jingu Shrine and Garden in Kyoto, Japan

Day 6 in Nara: New Miyako Hotel, A review - HEIAN JINGU SHRINE - Nanzenji temple and grounds - Nijojyo Castle - Golden Pavilion Temple

Can you hear the rustling of the leaves?
I paused...
The lush green leaves swayed gently in the afternoon breeze,

Silent and peaceful, yes... that was all that I could hear.

Today, was our last day in Japan. After being picked up by stardust, dot at 8 in the morning, we soon set off to tick the first place from our to-see list in Kyoto – The Heian Jingu Shrine and garden.

The Heian Jingu Shrine

Listed as one of the important cultural properties of Japan, Heian shrine is a relatively modern Shinto Shrine built in the year 1895. What sets it apart though, is it’s dramatic color composition and it's huge torrii at the entrance.
 

The huge torrii at the entrance

This enormous Torrii brightly washed in a coat of orange leads you to an open courtyard with shrine buildings painted in beautiful contrasts of orange, white and green making the entire composition look absolutely amazing!

The shrine grounds

However beautiful as it might have looked from the distance where we stood, we still gave it a fleeting glance and instead opted to spend some more time in the adjacent garden that are often found as a part of many shrines and temples in Japan.

The Heian Jingu Shrine Garden

Surrounding the shrine building is a typical Japanese garden – abounding in carefully manicured trees with artistically inclined branches, pond flowers in various stages of their bloom, fishes and turtles to feed to and a lot of beauty and harmony.

We walked on it’s pebbled paths under the thatched bamboo roofs beneath the vast expanse of the cluster of the trees above,

We sat in the shade of elegance of one of the ancient buildings,

We amazed at the complete artistry of it’s picture,

And then, we paused...

Basking in it’s tranquility... soaking in the beauty of it’s views,

And losing ourselves...

To, the rustling rhythm of the leaves...

To, the melody of nature.

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.
2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan
3. Entire Day 1 of Japan (includes Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo, Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember)
4. Entire Day 2 of Japan (includes SensoJi temple: Asakusa - Tokyo, Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo, Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo, A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens, Imperial Palace and East Gardens, The Tokyo Tower, Japan)

5. Entire Day 3 of Japan (includes Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, ISKCON Temple, Funabori in Tokyo, Epson Aquarium, Shinagawa in Tokyo)

6. Entire Day 4 of Japan - Nara (includes Riding the Shinkansen: My ticket to Kyoto, Hello Nara (Planning and Welcome), Driving through Nara: An Introduction, Horyu-ji Temple, Tea Ceremony in Jiko-in Zen Temple)
7. Entire Day 5 of Japan - Nara: (includes Messengers of God: Deer in Nara Park, The Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara, A Walk in the Yoshikien Garden, Kofukuji Temple, Naramachi Street)

8. Where to stay in Kyoto: New Miyako Hotel