Jonan-gu Shrine

When Japan’s capital was relocated to Kyoto in 794, this shrine was founded to guard the country. In 1086, Retired Emperor Shirakawa built the Jonan Imperial Villa (Toba Imperial Villa), which placed even more importance on the Jonan-gu shrine and resulted in numerous religious ceremonies being performed here. The imperial household showed great devotion to the shrine. Later, it became a historical landmark of the Meiji Restoration when the shrine was used by the government army as a base in 1868.
Even today there is still a deep belief in the gods of direction, construction and safe travel enshrined here. The shrine gardens, referred to as “The Tale of Genji Flower Gardens,” are famous for the abundance of flowers that bloom throughout all four seasons, and the elegant “Kyokusui-no-Utage” ceremony is performed here every year.