Kiyomizudera Temple is also one of the most representative and well-known temples in Japan. More than ten million people visit Kiyomizudera Temple annually. Kiyomizudera Temple is located at the foot of Higashiyama in Kyoto city.

Many temples and shrines in Kyoto were built after Kyoto became the capital of Japan in 794. Kiyomizudera Temple was built in 778. This was in the Nara Age, before Kyoto became the capital.

When you get off a bus at Gojyo-Zaka, you will go up Chawan-zaka Slope. You will see the Three-Storied Pagoda of the Kiyomizudera Temple in the middle of Higashiyama.

After a ten minute walk on Chawan-zaka Slope from the Gojyo-Zaka bus stop, you will arrive at Kiyomizudera Temple. Deva Gate, "Niomon Gate" in Japanese, is just in front of you.

In the below picture, Deva gate is on the left side, the Three-Storied Pagoda is on the far right. In front of the Three-Storied Pagoda, you will see the West Gate. These buildings are painted in vermilion with white walls. This color combination looks like a gate of a shrine.

Deva Gate was re-built at the end of the 15th century in the Muromachi Age. This is the main gate of Kiyomizudera Temple.

After passing Deva Gate and the West Gate, you will reach to the Three-Storied Pagoda. This pagota was originally built in 847 and re-built in 1632. The height of the pagota is 31m high. This is the one of the tallest Three-Storied Pagodas in Japan.

Behind the Three-Storied Pagoda, a couple of old buildings are located. They are Zuikyu-do, Kyodo and Kanzan-do. These buildings were re-built during the Edo Age. Zuikyu-do shown in the left picture below was re-built in 1713.

Behind these old buildings, Todoroki-Mon Gate is the final gate to the Main Hall, "Hondo". Todoroki-Mon Gate was re-built between 1631 and 1633. The bridge in front of Todoroki-Mon Gate divides this world and the world to come.

After passing through "Todoroki- Mon" Gate, you will finally arrive at the Main Hall, "Hondo". "Hondo" was re-built in 1633. The width and depth of "Hondo" are 36m and 30m, respectively. "Hondo" is a big traditional building. The cypress bark roof of "Hondo" gives you an impression of tradition and history.

"Hondo" has a stage in front. As "Hondo" is built on a cliff, the stage is an overhung structure. The view of "Hondo" with the overhung structured stage is definitely one of the most representative views of Japan.

"Okuno-In" is located at the east end of Kiyomizudera Temple. "Okuno-In" also has a cypress bark roof and an overhung structured stage. This traditional building is also very impressive.
The picture of "Hondo" shown above was taken from "Okuno-In"

Under "Okuno-In", the Otowa water falls is there.

Otowa water falls is related to the origin of Kiyomizudera Temple.
In 778, Kenshin (later Enchin), a Buddhist monk of Kofukuji Temple, went to Mt. Otowa in Higashiyama, Kyoto, where currently Kiyomizudera Temple is located. Kenshin discovered the Otowa water-falls and he found Gyoei-koji at the source of water-falls. Kenshin realized that Gyoei was an incarnation of "Kannon", Deity of Mercy, and he deified a statue of "Kannon".
This is the story why Kiyomizudera Temple was built.

How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take a Kyoto City Bus route 206 and 100. Get off at Gojyo-Zaka. Or, take a Kyoto City bus route 18 and get off at Higashiyama-Gojyo bus stop.
In both cases, it takes you 10 minutes and costs 230 yen.

Official English site:
http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/

Other Historical Sites near by:
Sannei-zaka Area
Gion Area
Yasaka Area
Kodaiji Temple