Kiyomizudera Temple is synonymous with Kyoto. It lies in the center of Otowayama, one of the many mountains of the Higashiyama mountain range. VIsitors from far and wide come to admire the views that can be seen from the famous pillar-supported temple jutting out from the mountainside.
The History of Kiyomizudera Temple
The temple was built more than 1200 years ago and is a rare remainder among ancient structures built before the Heian-kyo period, the old name for what is now Kyoto when it was the capital. The monastery within the temple's vast grounds has fallen victim to many fires throughout the years, and was rebuilt during the Edo period to resemble that of the original structures.
The Origins of Kiyomizudera Temple
Kiyomizudera Temple was originally built in 778, the 9th year of the Hōki era. A priest swordsman heard a voice in his dream that said, "Search for pure springs in the north," and found himself before a cascade of pure water (now called Otowa Waterfall) falling from Otowayama. There, he met an enlightened mountain man who told him, "Build a statue of the thousand-armed Goddess of Mercy to protect this land," marking the beginnings of what would later become Kiyomizudera Temple.
Later in 799, the 17th year of the Enryaku era, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro built a temple to house and protect the Eleven-Headed Kannon. He decided to name the temple "Kiyomizudera" after the pure waters flowing from Otowa Waterfall. In the years after its construction, the temple fell victim to many fires. In the 10th year of the Kan'ei era (1633), Ieyasu Tokugawa began reconstructing areas of the temple that were burnt. As of 1994, the temple was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kiyomizudera Temple Today
Kiyomizudera Temple's grounds are more than 13,000 ㎡ in area and have Otowayama (Kiyomizuyama) as its backdrop. The temple has many beautiful structures to see, such as he main temple which juts from the mountainside on wooden pillars, the largest three-storied pagoda in all of Japan, and the temple bell tower.
Kiyomizudera Temple's most prominent feature is the beautiful scenery that can be seen from the "stage" of its main temple building. The structure is made from around 410 wooden boards, with a total area of 190 ㎡ at a height of around 13 meters. The main temple building is build upon the steep cliffs of Otowayama in a traditional Japanese architectural style called "gakezukuri" and is supported by 18 pillars made of the Japanese zelkova tree. The temple doesn't use a single nail in its construction and, instead, is held together by intricate notches in the wood which holds the structure together naturally. The temple was originally an artistic offering to Kannon, or the Goddess of Mercy, and was the stage for Kabuki, Noh, and other such traditional forms of entertainment. Many domestic as well as overseas visitors come to revel in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the temple and look upon the streets of Kyoto below.
Experience the Purest Water of Kiyomizudera Temple
In the temple grounds, visitors can "offer a prayer upon one of the 3 streams" flowing from Otowa Waterfall. The pure water flowing through the temple grounds is also referred to as "ogon-sui" (golden water) and "enmei-sui" (waters of long life). Visitors gather pure water from one the 3 streams of Otowa Waterfall, use it for the purification of the six roots of perception, and pray to the buddhas in hopes their wish will come true.
Kiyomizudera Hours
Visitation hours vary depending on the season. From September 1st to June 30th, 6:00 am ~ 6:00 pm (close at 6:30 pm on Sat., Sun., and holidays from 8/4 to 30/6), autumn special night time visitation hours from November 16th to December 1st, Higashiyama Hanatouro and spring special night time visitation hours from March 8th to 17th, spring special night time visitation hours from March 29th to April 7th. Special night time visitation reception starts at 6:00 pm and lasts until 9:00 pm.
From July 1st to August 31st, the temple is open from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, and during summer special night time visitation hours for Sennichi-mairi from August 14th to August 16th, it is open from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
How to get from Kinkakuji to Kiyomizudera
Take Kyoto CIty Bus 204 (for Kita-Ohji Bus Terminal) at Kyoto City Bus stop "Kinkakuji-do" about a 5-minute walk from Kinkakuji Temple. After about 29 minutes, get off at "Kumano Jinja-mae", change to Kyoto City Bus 206 (for Kyoto Station) and, after approximately 12 minutes, get off at "Kiyomizu-do" bus stop. Kiyomizudera Temple is an 11-minute walk from Kiyomizu-do bus stop.
Spot Information
- Name: Kiyomizudera Temple
- Address: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
- Access: A 25-minute walk from the Keihan Main Line's Kiyomizu-Gojo Station.
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