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Kiyomizu-dera

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ATTRACTION GUIDE · KYOTO

Kiyomizu-dera

A hillside temple with a great wooden stage built without nails, overlooking Kyoto.

Tickets & tours Open in Google Maps
Time needed
1.5 hours
Entry
Paid
Best time
Sunset
Area
Higashiyama

A hillside temple with a huge wooden stage and city views.

Where it is & how to get there

Address: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto

  • Bus: Kyoto City Bus 206 or 100 to Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi, then 10 minutes uphill.
  • Streets: Walk up via the old lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.
  • Water: The Otowa waterfall has three streams visitors drink from.

The story of Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera was founded in 778 AD; the current buildings date from 1633. Its main hall has a wooden stage jutting 13 metres above the hillside, supported by a framework of pillars built without a single nail.

Its name means "pure water temple", after the Otowa waterfall below. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best time to visit

Best season

Spring for cherry blossoms and autumn for maples.

Best time of day

Sunset, or seasonal night illuminations.

Crowds

Very busy from 10 am.

Tips before you go

  • Walk up through the old Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes.
  • Walk down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka afterwards.
  • Visit during spring or autumn night illuminations.

Best hotels near Kiyomizu-dera

Well-known hotels within easy reach. Check prices and availability for your dates.

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

Riverside luxury hotel on the Kamo River.

See prices

Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion

Hotel near Yasaka Shrine.

See prices

Hoshinoya Kyoto

Riverside ryokan-style retreat in Arashiyama.

See prices
All hotels near Kiyomizu-dera

What's around Kiyomizu-dera

  • Sannenzaka & NinenzakaHistoric sloping streets.
  • Yasaka PagodaFive-storey pagoda.
  • Gion15 minutes' walk.
  • Kodai-jiZen temple with gardens.

Questions travellers ask

Is the stage really built without nails?

Yes, using interlocking joinery.

When is it lit at night?

During seasonal events in spring, summer and autumn.

Is it a UNESCO site?

Yes.

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Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

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Gion

Gion

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Back to the Kyoto guide
Travel Plan · Kiyomizu-dera Travel times, prices and opening hours change. Check official sites before you go. Photos: Unsplash. Privacy & disclosure