It was founded in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto) and in the hope of reviving Kyoto, which had been devastated by the upheavals at the end of the Edo period. It is a place that  symbolizes the culture and history of Heiankyo. 

　The Tale of Genji is set in the period when Heiankyo was flourishing. Visitors can experience the elegant scenery reminiscent of the world portrayed in the tale.The Daigokuden of Heian Jingu Shrine is a  reproduction of the main hall of the Chodoin. The “Chodoin”of the Heiankyo Imperial Palace in Heiankyo was used for national ceremonies and was one of the most important government buildings within the Imperial Palace.It is designated as a National Important Cultural Property, together with the Otenmon , a reproduction of the main gate of the Chodoin. The view that Hikaru Genji would have seen is reproduced here. 

　Surrounding the shrine building, the gardens display seasonal beauty throughout the year ーーweeping cherry trees in spring, irises in summer, autumn leaves in autumn and snowy landscapes in winter. The Jidai Matsuri  (Festival of the Ages), which began at the time of the shrine’s foundation, continues to this day ,and its grand procession, often called a “moving picture scroll of history and customs”, is cherished as  one of the three great festivals of Kyoto.

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 [Access]

Heian Jingu Shrine is in the Okazaki area of Kyoto, within walking distance of Higashiyama Station (10 minutes) on the Tozai Subway Line and Jingu-Marutamachi Station (15 minutes) on the Keihan Line.

[Address] 

 97 Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8341

[Tel]  +81 075-761-0221

This shrine’s formal name is Kamo-mioya-jinja. Together with Kamigamo Shrine, the shrine complex is collectively called Kamo Shrine. It is also sometimes informally referred to as Shimogamo-san. This is the location in the Tale of Genji where the conflict between Lady Aoi, Genji’s wife, and Lady Rokujō, Genji’s mistress, takes place during the Aoi Festival. In addition, Genji composes a song at Shimogamo Shrine during his travels. 

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 [Access]

　Kyoto City Bus: 1, 4, and 205

　Bus stop names: Shimogamo-Jinja mae, Tadasu no Mori (a few minutes walk after getting off)

[Address] 

　59 Shimogamo Izumikawacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒606-0807

[Tel]  +81 075-781-0010

Originally, this location was built as a royal villa for Emperor Junna. In 896, he summoned the Buddhist high priest Henjō and it became an official temple called Unrin-in. In those days, troubled poets would gather there to write songs. The temple also appears in the 10th chapter of the Tale of Genji, titled “Sakaki,” and is the location where Genji secludes himself out of frustration when he is rebuffed by his love interest, Lady Fujitsubo. Furthermore, the grave that is believed to be Murasaki Shikibu’s is nearby this temple. 

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[Access]

　Kyoto City Bus: 1, 12, 204, 205, 206, M1, and 北 8

　Bus stop name: Daitoku-ji mae (1 min. on foot)

[Address]

　23 Murasakino Unrin-incho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒603-8214

[Tel] +81 075-431-1561

High Priest Chōnen had planned to model Mt. Atago after Mt. Godai in China and then construct Dai-Seiryō-ji Temple, but it was not completed. His disciple, Seisan, enshrined a statue of Buddha in Shaka-dō which Chōnen had brought from China, marking the beginning of this temple. The temple that Genji constructs in the story, Saga-no-midō, was modeled after Seiryō-ji Temple, where people have gathered since ancient times to worship the Buddha statues there. Also, this is the place where Genji spent his final years after entering the priesthood.

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[Access]

　Kyoto City Bus: 28 and 91 

　Kyoto Bus: 62, 72, 92, and 94

　Bus stop name: Sagashakado-mae (5 min. on foot)

[Address] 46 Sagashakadofujinokicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒616-8447

[Tel] +81 075-861-0343

Tenryū-ji Temple was built in 1339 to pray for the salvation of the late Emperor Go-Daigo. To complete the temple, two trade ships were sent to China, and the profits were used to fund construction. After initial construction, the temple was hit by eight large fires, the first of which took place in 1345; however, it was rebuilt each time it burned down. Today it serves as the headquarters of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. The temple grounds once extended across large swaths of the Arashiyama area. The residence of the Tale of Genji’s Lady Akashi is thought to have been close to the nearby Katsura River.

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[Access]

　Randen Line: Randen-Arashiyama Station, on Arashiyama Main Line (3 min. on foot)

　Kyoto City Bus: 11, 28, 93

　Kyoto Bus: 62, 72, 92, and 94

　Bus stop name: Arashiyama Tenryūji mae  (immediately after getting off)

[Address] 68 Saga Tenryūji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒616-8385

[Tel] +81 075-881-1235

Kiyomizu-dera Temple was built in 780 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Since long ago it has been familiar to people from all walks of life, and its beloved appearance has been depicted in history books and literature. In 1994, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. In the Tale of Genji chapter 4, “Yūgao,” a distraught Genji cremates the body of his fallen lover Yūgao near Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

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[Access]

　Kyoto City Bus: 58, 80, 86, 202, 206, 207

　Kyoto Bus: 18 ,86

　Bus stop names: Kiyomizu-michi, Gojozaka (10 min. on foot)

[Address] 294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒605-0862

[Tel] +81 075-551-1234

The official name of this temple is “Kyō-ō Gokoku-ji Temple.” This temple has a long history going back about 1200 years since its foundation. It is Japan’s first Esoteric Buddhist temple, and the head temple of the Shingon Buddhist sect. It was originally built as a national temple to coincide with the relocation of the capital to Kyoto in the Heian period. Later, Emperor Saga entrusted the great Buddhist teacher Kūkai to manage the temple. The five-storied pagoda, at the time the tallest in Japan, contains Buddhist relics brought back by Kūkai from the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Saga was a leader in early Heian politics and culture, and he praised the Tale of Genji. His son was Minamoto no Tōru, said to be the inspiration for the character Genji.

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[Access]

　Kyoto City Bus:

18, 特18, 42, 71, 特71, and 207; Bus stop name: Toji Temple Higashimon mae

16, 18, 特18, 19, 42, 78, 202, and 208; Bus stop name: Toji Temple Minamimon mae

16; Bus stop name: Toji Temple Nishimon mae (immediately after getting off)

[Address] 1 Kujocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, Japan 〒601-8473

[Tel] +81 075-691-3325

"The Tale of Genji" is a classic work of Japanese literature, and well known around the world. "Classics Day" was declaredon November 1, 2008 at the 1,000 year anniversary of "The Tale of Genji", and was later officialy established by law. Let's use this day to familiarize ourselves with the classics, the crystallization of wisdom that answers the eternal questions, "What is a human being and what is life?"

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