京都・平安神宮 / Heian Jingu - Kyoto

京都に一番大きい鳥居はどこへ見られませんか？いろいろな資料によると、京都に一番大きい鳥居は「平安神宮」の鳥居です。しかし、その鳥居は日本に一番大きくないですよ。和歌山県の「熊野本宮大社」の鳥居は日本に一番大きい鳥居です。じゃ、今週は「平安神宮」を紹介ことにします。
Where can you find the biggest Torii Gate in Kyoto? According to various resources, the biggest Torii gate in Kyoto would be the Torii Gate in front of 'Heian Jingu'. But, this wasn't the biggest Torii Gate in Japan. The biggest Torii Gate in Japan would be the Torii Gate built in 'Kumano Hongu Taisha' located in the prefecture of 'Wakayama'. As for this week, I will be introducing 'Heian Jingu' and I might introduce to you to 'Kumano Hongu Taisha', after I have pay my visit to the shrine. :P

	「平安神宮」の鳥居のいろいろなカメラアングル これは「平安神宮」の鳥居です。ほんまに大きいですよ。 あの鳥居の高度は24.4メートルです。 Pictures of the Torii Gate from different angles This would be the Torii Gate of 'Heian Jingu'. Trust me, its really very big in size. And the height of the Torii Gate was 24.4 metres.

	境内 境内の建造物はきれいな色を使用します。 境内の空間が広いし、大きいです。 だから、一年中で「平安神宮」に押すな 押すなの場合は見ることが少ないです。 Photos taken in the compound of 'Heian Jingu'. The structures within the compound uses a nice combinations of colors. And as the compound was pretty spacious and big, therefore, it's not that common for you to experience a overcrowding 'Heian Jingu' throughout the year.

「平安神宮」の神苑に様々な花以外、他の素敵なビューもあります。例えば：
Besides for the flowers planted in the garden of 'Heian Jingu',
you can also take a look at some other interesting stuff. For example:

神苑の南神苑の部分に日本最古の電車が見られます。 You can take a closer look at the oldest electronic train in Japan in the 'Minami Shin En'.

	臥龍橋 神苑の中神苑の部分に臥龍橋があります。 皆さん、この橋を渡る時、気を付けてください。 Ga Ryu Kyo This bridge can be found in the 'Naka Shin En'. But, please be careful while crossing the bridge, as I believe that no one would want to fall into the pond at all.

	泰平閣(橋殿) ここは神苑の東神苑の部分です。 泰平閣を渡る時、東神苑の素敵ビューが見られます。 Taihei Kaku(Hashi Dono) This can be found in the 'Higashi Shin En'. You can admire the views of the surroundings, while crossing the bridge at your own pace.

附：京都五社めぐり～四神相応の京～ 京都で「平安神宮」を中心に、北の「上賀茂神社」（玄武）、西の「八坂神社」（蒼龍）、南の「城南宮」（朱雀）と東の「松尾大社」（白虎）は「京都五社めぐり」の神社です。たぶん、これと中国の風水が大体同じです。つまり、人々も四神の存在と守る能力が信じられます。 Add-ons: Kyoto Gosha Meguri～Shi Jin Sou Ou No Kyo～ In the City of Kyoto, placing the 'Heian Jingu' as the midpoint, you can find 'Kamigamo Jinja' in the North that represents 'Black Tortoise', 'Yasaka Jinja' in the East that represents 'Blue Dragon', 'Jonangu' in the South that represents the 'Vermilion Bird' and in the West, you can find 'Matsuno Taisha', which represents the 'White Tiger'. This is pretty similar to Feng Shui, where the Japanese believe that these 4 gods could bring them protection from all sorts of illness and bad luck.

もし皆さん「平安神宮」で参りたかったら、
時代祭のために、十月の京都へ行った方がいいですよ。
（実は僕は「時代祭」を参加したことがありませんでした。
しかし、インタネットの写真によると、その祭りが面白そうです。）
If you want to visit 'Heian Jingu', for the sake of the 'Jidai Festival',
I would recommend you to do it in the month of October.
(Actually I have not participate in the 'Jidai Festival' before but according
to the images that was gathered from the Internet on the pictures of
'Jidai Festival', it seems to be a pretty interesting festival to participate in.)

* こちは「平安神宮」の資料です。
^ こちは「熊野本宮大社」の資料です。
# こちは「京都五社めぐり～四神相応の京～」の資料です。
~ こちは僕が「平安神宮」に撮るの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Heian Jingu'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Kumano Hongu Taisha'. (In Japanese Only.)
# Click here to find out more about 'Kyoto Gosha Meguri～Shi Jin Sou Ou No Kyo～'.
  (In Japanese Only.)
~ Click here for the photos of 'Heian Jingu' that was taken by me.