Heian Shrine - Great Attractions (Kyoto, Japan)

Take a tour of Heian Shrine in Kyoto, Japan – part of the World’s Greatest Attractions travel video series by GeoBeats. Located in Kyoto, Japan, the elegant Heian Shrine is one of the revered Shinto Shrines. Built in the mid 1890's, this shrine is dedicated to 2 emperors - the first and the last emperor of the old capital. Besides being a tourist attraction, the shrine also serves as the spiritual center of the nation as a whole. The shrine has three main gardens displaying more than 200 kinds of plants. Another important feature of the shrine is its huge pond with two small islands. This pond is home to several rare and unique species like golden soft-shelled turtle, which is believed to bring luck. This shrine stands out with its particular way of offering prayers and display of artifacts and features.