Heian Shrine and Shintoism

Shinto is one of the two major religions in Japan (the other one is Buddhism).   Shinto is about living in harmony with nature and all things. 

We visited 3 Shinto temples in Japan and the Heian Shrine in Kyoto is one of them.  

Here is the main gate leading to the Heian Shrine.

Upon entering a Shinto Shrine, worshippers wash their hands and rinse their mouth because cleanliness is a sign of respect to the deities.  This is where you can cleanse yourself.

Usually, Shinto temple grounds are also covered with white sand or gravel.  According to our tour guide, the sound your walk produces – shoes scratching against the gravel – is also part of the cleansing as you walk towards the temple. 

This is the Heian Shrine which dates back to 1895.   It was built to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto (Japan's old capital before it was moved to Tokyo).  It is dedicated to the spirits of the first and last emperors who reigned the city.  The word "Heian" is actually the old name of Kyoto.

Just like Buddhist temples, you can also write your wishes and petitions on wooden boards like these.

You can also write your prayers and wishes on paper and tie them on trees.  From afar, I actually thought these trees were cherry blossoms. Haha...  

The paper and wooden boards bearing the prayers are just left outside in the belief that the wind carries the wishes out into the world.



Within the grounds, you can also find some sakura or cherry blossoms.  The shrine is most popular for its weeping cherry trees.