Most people who have been to Kyoto will say that they love how beautifully unique it is. It’s a city filled with traditions and temples, featuring some of the most popular sights in Japan such as the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion or the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari.
Another famous temple in Kyoto is the Kiyomizu-dera, and I’ll be your guide today…
Apart from the temple itself, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from Kiyomizu-dera.
Kiyomizudera (清水寺, literally “Pure Water Temple”) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance.
Source: Japan-guide.com
There are also plenty of areas to purchase your omiyage (souvenirs) and take awesome photographs!
We purchased our tickets and walked in. To be honest, I didn’t expect too much from this particular temple, because I guess it is neither gold nor filled with torii gates (i.e. not as picturesque)…
But I thought wrong. I actually really enjoyed my visit to Kiyomizu-dera!
The reason is this: During fall (it was already the start of winter when we were there, but there were plenty of autumn leaves still hanging on the trees), the view from Kiyomizu-dera was magnificent. And the walk around town was fun too!
We walked past the Okunoin Hall and through the structures of the wooden stage. From far, we could see Koyasu Pagoda trying to get our attention.
After the nice walk around the wooden stage, we then visited the Jishu Shrine.
Here’s an explanation of the purpose of this shrine:
Behind Kiyomizudera’s main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking. In front of the shrine are two stones, placed 18 meters apart. Successfully finding your way from one to the other with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in finding love. You can also have someone guide you from one stone to the other, but that is interpreted to mean that an intermediary will be needed in your love life as well.
Source: Japan-guide.com
We didn’t try closing our eyes and doing that, because that seemed more dangerous than it is wise. I mean, there were so many people around! LOL. Okay, maybe I’m just not superstitious.
I really enjoyed people-watching, as many young women flocked to the shrine to make a wish to the deity of love!
Anyways, back to autumn leaves…
So pretty!!! <3
And the view from the other side was quite magnificent too! We saw hundreds of tourists standing around the temple, enjoying the same view as us.
The view of the city of Kyoto, that is! :) The Kyoto Tower stood tall in the midst of the changing colours of autumn (and the sky was somehow a little gloomy on the day too)…
We also walked past many Jizo do, statues with red coloured clothing, scattered around the temple area.
And plenty of women in traditional kimono… <3
One good thing to know is that not all of them are Japanese, some are tourists just like you and I who paid a nearby shop to dress them up in kimono for a day out in Kyoto. I might do this the next time I’m there…
The monks are most probably non-tourists though!
And that one cool dog is defo true blue Japanese! ;) So cool. I love how much people dress up their pets in Japan.
Okay, let’s go back to autumn colours (yeah, I’m obsessed)…
I couldn’t help but take so many photographs, so let me show you a few more before I end this post…
Kiyomizu-dera and surrounding is gorgeous during autumn (or early winter, we were there in mid-December). I’d recommend Kiyomizu-dera for anyone who loves walking around and not just admire the beautiful architecture but also enjoy a good stroll and people-watching.
Kiyomizu-dera is best combined with a walk back through the small alleys of Higashiyama and back to the main streets of Gion.