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Known for the superlative views which may be enjoyed from its main hall,
the Kiyomizu T emple (“Pure Water Temple’), known locally as the
Kiyomizudera, is the Higashiyama-ku’s most famous and beautifully
located temples.
It was founded in 780 and remains associated with the Hosso sect, one of
the oldest sects within Japanese Buddhism. In 1994, the temple was added
to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
The Kiyomizudera is located in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto on
Mount Otowa. Its position offers visitors a nice view over the city from
its famous wooden terrace. Below the terrace, you can taste the spring
water, which gives the temple its name and is believed by many faithful
pilgrims to have healing power.
The terrace itself is a large wooden veranda supported by 139 pillars,
each standing at 49 feet high.
Its main hall is dedicated to the goddess of mercy and compassion, but
most visitors come for the magnificence of its height and view. It is
because of the sheer magnificence and height of the temple that to the
Japanese, the idiomatic expression "jumping from the veranda of Kiyomizu
Temple" means that they're about to undertake some particularly bold or
daring adventure.
Behind Kyomizudera's main hall stands the Jishu Shrine, a shrine
dedicated to the deity of love. In front of the shrine are two rocks,
known as the “love fortune-telling stones” set 30 feet apart from each
other. Local lore has it if you are able to walk from one stone to the
other with your eyes closed, it will bring good luck and much blessing
on a person’s love life.
Kiyomizu's grounds are particularly spectacular in spring during
cherry-blossom season and in fall during the turning of the maple
leaves. Expect to run into huge groups of crowds though for because of
the temple’s popularity, a number of ryokans and shops have sprung up to
service the tourist trade.
Getting there:
Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station in about 15 minutes by
bus. Take bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi or
Gojo-zaka, from where it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.
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