Kiyomizu-dera

Temple

Prefecture

Kyoto

Type

Temple

N/A

1 review

English Staff Train Access Cafe Vegetarian

About This Destination

A hillside temple where a vast wooden stage, supported by 139 pillars without a single nail, offers sweeping views across Kyoto's eastern mountains.

Kiyomizu-dera traces its founding to 778, making it one of Kyoto's oldest temples. The main hall's most famous feature is its wooden stage, a feat of eighth-century engineering that juts out over the hillside supported by 139 interlocking pillars, assembled entirely without nails. From this veranda, views sweep across Kyoto's forested eastern mountains, a panorama that becomes truly spectacular during cherry blossom season and autumn foliage, when special evening illuminations transform the temple grounds. Below the main hall, Otowa Waterfall divides into three streams, each believed to grant a different blessing: longevity, success in studies, or fortune in love. Visitors queue to drink from one, though local tradition holds that choosing all three reveals excessive greed. The approach through the Higashiyama district is part of the experience, a fifteen-minute climb along atmospheric lanes lined with tea houses, pottery shops, and traditional storefronts that have served pilgrims for centuries.

Location

Prefecture: Kyoto

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Nearest Station: Kiyomizu-gojo Station

View on Google Maps

Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: Tea houses along the approach streets serve matcha with wagashi sweets. Yatsuhashi (cinnamon rice crackers) are a popular souvenir snack.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to get to Kiyomizu-dera?

From Kyoto Station, take bus #100 or #206 to Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi bus stop (about 15 minutes, 230 yen flat fare). Walk uphill 10–15 minutes through the charming Higashiyama shopping streets — Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are themselves landmarks. Alternatively, walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station on the Keihan Line in about 20 minutes.

When is the best time to visit Kiyomizu-dera?

Cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and autumn foliage (mid-November to early December) are most spectacular, with special evening illuminations on selected dates. Early morning right at the 6 AM opening or after 5 PM avoids the biggest day-trip crowds year-round. Spring and autumn illuminations require a separate ticket and are very popular — buy in advance if possible.

What are the opening hours and admission fee?

Open daily from 6:00 AM. Closing time varies by season (5:00–6:30 PM, later during illumination periods). Adult admission is 400 yen, junior-high and elementary 200 yen. The special night illuminations in spring and autumn require a separate ticket (around 400 yen). The temple grounds and Sannenzaka shopping street are free to walk through.

What's special about the Kiyomizu Stage?

The famous wooden 'Kiyomizu Stage' juts 13 meters out from the main hall over the hillside, supported by 168 wooden pillars assembled without a single nail. The view from the stage takes in central Kyoto and the cherry/maple trees below. Its centuries-long restoration was completed in 2020. The neighboring Otowa Waterfall lets you sip from one of three streams — said to grant longevity, success in studies, or a successful love life.