Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

The view from Kiyomizudera's entrance. Photo Christopher Buchanan.

Entrance gate of Kiyomizudera. Photo Christopher Buchanan.

A fine view over Kyoto from the wooden terrace. Photo solution 63.

Kiyomizudera and its waterfalls from above. Photo Elia Diodati.

Visitors drink from the sacred water of Kiyomizudera, which is believed
to bring health and good fortune. Photo Christopher Buchanan.

Kiyomizu-dera

Shopping street leading up to Kiyomizudera. Photo royalt.

One of Japan's most popular temples, Kiyomizudera (or Kiyomizu-dera, "Pure Water Temple") was founded in 780 AD and still functions as a temple associated with the Hosso sect of Japanese Buddhism.

History

Although Kiyomizudera was founded in 780 AD, the present buildings date from 1633. Kiyomizudera's architecture has been imitated by lesser temples all over Japan and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

The expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge." This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive jumping from the terrace, one's wish would be granted. This does appear plausible: the lush vegetation below the platform might cushion the 13-meter fall of a lucky pilgrim, though the practice is now prohibited. 234 jumps were recorded in the Edo period and of those, 85.4% survived.

What to See

Kiyomizu commands an exalted spot on a steep hill in eastern Kyoto. The quaint street leading up to the temple is lined with souvenir shops, restaurants and ryokan (Japanese-style inns). The temple grounds have open-air pavilions providing beer and noodles.

The main hall of Kiyomizudera is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of wooden pillars, which juts out over the hillside and offers beautiful views of the city.

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa-no-taki ("Sound of Feathers") waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. Visitors to the temple collect the water from the falls in metal cups and drink it for health, longetivity, and success in studies.

The temple complex contains several other shrines, notably Jishu-jinja, decidated to Okuninushino-Mikoto, a god of love and "good matches." Near the shrine are two rocks placed several meters apart - successfully walking from one rock to the other with your eyes closed means that you will find love. You can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that an intermediary will be needed.

As one of the most-visited attractions of the city, Kiyomizudera also abounds with hawkers offering various talismans, incense, and o-mikuji (paper fortunes ranging from "great fortune" to "great ill").

Be prepared: the high popularity of the place means that tourists will find it difficult to take pictures on the main temple's platform.

Quick Facts

Names:	Kiyomizudera, Kiyomizu-dera, Pure Water Temple
Type of site:	Hosso Buddhist temple
Dates:	Founded 780; present buildings date from 1633

Getting There

Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station in about 15 minutes by bus. Take bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka. From there it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.

Travel Resources

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Kyoto Travel Forum - tips, advice, answers on Kyoto

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Kiyomizudera in eastern Kyoto. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Kyoto Map or get our free Google Earth download.