Heian Shrine
Okazaki, Kyoto
1 Mar to 30 Sep
- Daily
- 6:00 to 18:00
1 Oct to 31 Oct
- Daily
- 6:00 to 17:30
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 6:00 to 17:00
Hours are for the grounds. The garden opens at 8:30 and takes its last visitors 30 minutes before closing. On 22 October the grounds close at noon and the garden admits visitors 9:30 to 11:30.
Source: heianjingu.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Heian Shrine went up in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto becoming the capital, and its vermilion halls copy the Heian palace's state halls at about five-eighths scale. Behind them is a 33,000 m² stroll garden by the seventh Ogawa Jihei, with weeping cherries in spring and irises in early summer.
More photos of Heian Shrine
Insider tip
The grounds are free and the garden costs ¥600. The garden is free for everyone twice a year, in early June and on 19 September. The giant torii out on the approach dates from 1929.
What the guides say about Heian Shrine
Okazaki is Kyoto's museum quarter, round Heian Shrine, with Nanzen-ji a walk east along the Lake Biwa Canal. The Westin Miyako Kyoto is by Keage Station and runs a free bus from Kyoto Station that takes about 25 minutes, and Yachiyo, a ryokan, stands right beside Nanzen-ji. By subway, Higashiyama Station's about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station, changing at Karasuma Oike.
What's on at Heian Shrine
Upcoming events at Heian Shrine, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Heian Antique Market (Heian Nomi-no-ichi)
平安蚤の市
Time 9:00 to 16:00 Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk
More than 100 dealers in antiques and secondhand goods set up in Okazaki Park in front of Heian Shrine. Dates move from month to month and are often weekdays, and rain or storms cancel it, with the call posted the afternoon before.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Heian Rakuichi Handmade Market
平安楽市
Time 10:00 to 16:00 Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk
A market of makers' own crafts and snacks in Okazaki Park, about once a month on dates the organiser posts, often on a weekday. In 2026 there was none in September or October, and the August one ran from 16:00 to 20:00.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Kyoto Meat Festival (Kyoto Niku Matsuri)
第11回 京都肉祭
Time 10:00 to 16:00 Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 8 min walk
For one day, Kyoto restaurants including Mishima-tei, Moritaya and Ginkakuji Onishi cook dishes from Kyoto beef in the park in front of Heian Shrine, and packs of the beef sell at ¥1,000, ¥2,000 and ¥3,000. Entry's free.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Setsubun at Heian Jingu
節分行事（平安神宮）
Time Kyogen 12:00, rite 14:00, bonfire from about 15:30 Station Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan Heian-jingu-mae bus stop (City Bus 5), 5 min walk
A Heian court demon-expelling rite at 14:00, then the demons come back through the Otenmon gate to dance, beans are thrown, and about 40,000 prayer sticks go on a bonfire. A free Okura school kyogen play opens the afternoon at 12:00.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Kyoto Marathon 2027
京都マラソン2027
Time Wheelchair race from 8:55, marathon from 9:00, course closes at 15:00 Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk to the finish at Heian Jingu
About 16,000 runners set off from Takebishi Stadium at 9:00 and finish in front of Heian Jingu, passing near seven World Heritage sites on the way, Kinkaku-ji, Kamigamo and Ginkaku-ji among them. Roads along the course close for hours, so plan your sightseeing around it.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Nearby
Around Okazaki
Art museums, Meiji gardens and Nanzen-ji along the Lake Biwa Canal
Okazaki is Kyoto's museum quarter. Two art museums sit either side of the approach to Heian Shrine, by its giant torii, and the zoo, a crafts museum and ROHM Theatre Kyoto are a few minutes away round Okazaki Park. Follow the Lake Biwa Canal east and you're at Nanzen-ji, with Eikan-do and Murin-an a short walk from its gate.
Okazaki has 27 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 9 shrines and temples, 6 museums, 4 restaurants, 2 cafes, 2 shops, 2 landmarks and 2 parks and gardens. Read the Okazaki guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Heian Shrine?
- 97 Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市左京区岡崎西天王町97).
- What are the opening hours of Heian Shrine?
- 1 Mar to 30 Sep: Daily 6:00 to 18:00. 1 Oct to 31 Oct: Daily 6:00 to 17:30. Rest of the year: Daily 6:00 to 17:00. Hours are for the grounds. The garden opens at 8:30 and takes its last visitors 30 minutes before closing. On 22 October the grounds close at noon and the garden admits visitors 9:30 to 11:30.
- How do I get to Heian Shrine?
- The nearest station is Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan Heian-jingu-mae bus stop (City Bus 5, 100). Heian Shrine is in Okazaki, Kyoto.
- How much does Heian Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Heian Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Heian Shrine?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Heian Shrine?
- Early April for the weeping cherries.
Stay near Heian Shrine
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