Heian Jingu North and South Gardens

These gardens located to the north and south of the Shinden Hall form a striking contrast. The North Garden features a spring-fed pond surrounded by a path and an artificial hill (tsukiyama). Nestled in the lush foliage of the hill is the Hitotei teahouse; beyond that is the Five-Story Pagoda, which is visible from the teahouse when its sliding doors are open. The South Garden has an entirely different character. Simple yet charming, it features cherry and mandarin-orange trees, along with cedars and pines bordering a beautifully raked rock garden of gravel and white sand.