Discover a Quiet and Peaceful side of Kyoto
Jonangu Shrine features a sacred garden known as “Rakusuien,” where visitors can enjoy flowers that bloom throughout the seasons.
The garden includes the flowers and trees depicted in *The Tale of Genji*, earning it the nickname “The *Tale of Genji* Flower Garden.”
It is also known as the “Heian Garden” and serves as the venue for the famous *Kyokusui no En* (Winding Stream Banquet).
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Jonangu Shrine, located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, was founded at the time of the capital’s relocation to Heian-kyo and boasts a history spanning 1,200 years.
It is revered as a major shrine for protection against directional misfortune.
The shrine is famous for the “Kyokusui no En” (Winding Stream Banquet) ceremony held in its garden, which recreates a pastime of Heian-period aristocrats; the event revives an elegant tradition where participants float sake cups down a small stream, compose *waka* poetry, and partake of the sake.
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Despite its location in the city, Tennei-ji is a tranquil temple; its main gate is known as the “Picture Frame Gate,” as Mount Hiei, viewed through the opening, appears as if it were set within a frame—a truly beautiful sight.
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If you walk from Arashiyama toward the Oi River—which connects to the Hozu River upstream of the Togetsukyo Bridge—the bustling atmosphere of the tourist area gives way to a serene landscape.
This area holds a rich history; in the Heian period, nobles would float boats on the river to compose *waka* poetry and admire the scenery—a tradition that lives on today, as sightseeing *yakatabune* (roofed pleasure boats) can still be seen here.
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The Mitarashi Festival, commonly known as the “Ashitsuke Shinji” (Ritual of Dipping Feet), involves immersing one’s legs up to the knees in the spring water of the shrine’s Mitarashi Pond while offering a lantern and praying for good health and freedom from illness.
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