Day: Apr 7, 2024

Kiyomizu Temple 清水寺

If you can only visit one place in Kyoto, you should go to Kiyomizu dera Temple 清水寺.

Halfway up Mt. Otowa, one of the peaks in Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range, stands Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is abundantly blessed with nature. It provides landscapes to match each season. https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/learn/

About 8:30 in the morning
One can see Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the end of the street
street to the Temple

The Temple had many visitors already (it opens at 6 am)
仁王門 Nio-mon
Main entrance of the Temple
14 meters high   10 meters wide   5 meters long

Three story Pagoda of Kiyomzu-dera Temple
An other 3 level pagoda in the same place, much smaller

Sai-mon West Gate 西門
Hondo Main Hall 本堂
The Main Hall in Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which stands on the steep cliff of Mt. Otowa
is a renowned wooden structure reconstructed in 1633
Overlooking the city of Kyoto from the Main Hall
There were many Sakura just underneath, imagine the full bloom season
Other angle of Kiyomizu Temple
Kyoto overthere
Many Sakura not yet in bloom

Otowa no taki (Otowa Waterfall)
Kiyomizu-dera Temple originates from Otowa Waterfall and takes its name from the pureness of the waters. The clear, gushing waters have long been called “Konjiki-sui” (golden water) or “Enmei-sui” (life-prolonging water) and are suitable for use in purification. Visitors catch each of the three streams of pure water with ladles and pray for purification of their six senses and to make their wishes come true.
Queued up to go in the Main hall (I didn’t go inside)
Outside the Main hall
When I come out of the Temple around midday, the street was full of people
They either going to the Temple or leaving the Temple

March 2024.