About 2,000 Japanese irises of 200 varieties are in full bloom at Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto City. The garden has a temporary bridge over the pond at this time of year.

KYOTO--A New Year’s ceremonial ... the first time in three years at Yasakajinja shrine here on Jan. 3. Dressed in the traditional costume of the Heian Period (794-1185), eight women took part ...

The festival was first held in 1895, when Heian Jingu Shrine was built, to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Kyoto at the beginning of the Heian period.

KYOTO--A ceremonial ... women in gorgeous Heian Period (794-1185) court attire giving a public demonstration of the popular “karuta” card-snatching game at Yasakajinja shrine here.

This outdoor party was revived at Jonangu Shrine in 1970. Experts tend the recreated period garden, and poets yearning for a bygone era strive to render the spirit of their Heian forebears.

The man, identified as Steve Hayes, is accused of using his fingernails to scratch five letters into a torii gate at the Meiji Jingu shrine on Tuesday morning. Hayes said he was writing the name ...