Kiyomizu Temple Tours

Kiyomizu Temple which includes night scenes, religious elements and a temple or place of worship
Constructed entirely without nails and built on high poles, this temple is part of a World Heritage Site and offers visitors both beauty and history.

Nestled in the Otowa Mountain, to the east of central Kyōto, the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu is one of the city’s most popular attractions, attracting millions of visitors each year. The current temple buildings date from the 15th to 17th centuries, but there has been a temple here since 778.

Enter through the red and gold Deva gate, and head up a steep incline to the temple. There are two approaches you can take, each lined with stalls selling snacks, local pottery work, incense and souvenirs. The Main Hall is the prominent feature of the temple, and houses an image of the goddess of mercy, Kannon Bodhisattva.

Pilgrims have visited the temple for hundreds of years. To accommodate the pilgrims, a veranda was built on the Main Hall during the Edo period (1603-1868). Huge poles support the cedar slabs that make up the veranda. From here you have a view out to the city and over the hundreds of cherry trees planted in the temple gardens.

You can also visit Otowa-no-taki waterfall and sip the water, which is said to have special properties, giving the drinker longevity, wisdom and good health. The romantic minded can venture to the Jishu shrine, where it is said that if you walk from one rock with your eyes closed and find your way to the second, you’ll find true love. The temple grounds also feature a three-tiered pagoda and 1,000 stone Buddha statues. In the fall the gardens are lit up so that you can enjoy the fiery colors of the maples in the garden.

The temple is open daily and there is a fee to enter the complex. Take public transportation or a cab as there is no car parking on site. Buses depart from Kyōto Station, the city’s main transportation hub. It’s best to arrive early if you want to beat the crowds.

Plan a trip to see Kiyomizu Temple

THE THOUSAND KYOTO
Eslead Hotel  Namba Daikokucho
Hotel Keihan Universal Tower
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Kiyomizu Temple

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
477
" "5 - Excellent 62.84584980237154%
4 - Good
230
" "4 - Good 30.303030303030305%
3 - Okay
42
" "3 - Okay 5.533596837944664%
2 - Disappointing
10
" "2 - Disappointing 1.3175230566534915%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Nov 5, 2019

Really crowded, but it is so huge that it is worth going there anyhow. Beautiful.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Jun 11, 2019

Under renovation 〜mar/2020

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 28, 2019

Under construction during our visit (5/25/19)

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 25, 2019

When we went (5/20), the temple was under construction/repair. II had been there previously and it was great, but it's unclear how long the scaffolding and construction equipment will be up.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
May 24, 2019

Under renovations at the moment

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Apr 27, 2019

The main Temple in currently under renovation and covered, but there is still plenty to see on the property.

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Kiyomizu Temple

Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
3.5 out of 5
420 Sakuranocho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae
3 out of 5
565-3 Kita Fudondo-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae
sequence KYOTO GOJO
sequence KYOTO GOJO
4 out of 5
409 Gojokarasumacho Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
sequence KYOTO GOJO
The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
4 out of 5
74 Nakajimacho,Kawaramachi Higashi-iru, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.