Heian Shrine

The Heian Shrine is a relatively new (1895) example of a more ancient Heian style. The shrine was built in celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the transfer of Japan’s capital to Kyoto, a scaled down version of Chodo-in (Hall of State) of the Old Imperial Palace. Heian Shrine's elegance and sumptuous reds harken back to a time when Japan had open relations with China and celebrated China's style in its architecture.  The gardens also reflect the Heian style with a preponderance of ponds, and Chinese style covered bridges called Taiheikaku.