The Buddhist temple, founded in the 8th century, is very famous for its structure hanging over a mountain cliff, and is also popular with many shops along the approach which consists of many stone steps and long slopes.
We recommend you to visit there if you are comfortable in walking up on a bit longer uphill. You would be impressed with a panoramic view of Kyoto as well as old street views of the old capital.
Let's get started from the foot of an approach called Sanneizaka. You'll walk on a flat stony path and often go up several series of stone steps. The narrow uphill suggests that it was made long long ago like roads of old towns in Europe.
You'll see various kinds of shops selling picture cards, souvenior items, or pottery. The area is very famous for its traditional pottery-making.
It's a good idea to take a rest at a confectionary restaurant, where you can enjoy a combination of green tea and a piece of Japanese cake, sitting on a bench covered with red cloth.
Coming up through the busy street, you'll be in a open space where a red gate, called Niou-mon, stands before you.
Here starts the area of a Buddhist temple, Kiyomizu-dera, which refers to a pure water temple. Actually even now it has a spring in the back yard, and people have believed that drinking the water is good for health since the time when it was found.
The Nishi-mon gate and the three-storied pagoda follow on your right. The pagoda is a symbolic component of temple architecture where Buddha's ash is stored and enshrined. That's why it has a high structure with several stories.
Walking up several minutes, you'll finally reach the main building, called Hondo, which was re-built about 400 years ago and keeps its original structure showing a synmetric, elegant appearance.
The Buddha image, enshrined in the Hondo, is very unique in having 11 faces and 42 hands. The exaggerated appearance indicates that he has unlimited ability of salvation for all the worldly people. So, for 1200 years, a numerous number of people, suffered from wars and diseases, have visited here to pray peaceful life and ask for good health.
The temple, however, makes it a rule to show the image to the public every 33 years, and people usually look at a reprica which stands before a screen hiding the real one. You'll be able to see the genuine idol in 2033.
The floor of Hondo is supported by several wooden pillars and beams that are combined without any nail used. You may be brave enough to look down from the central stage which is about 12 meters high.
We often use a phrase that "Jump down from the stage of Kiyomizu temple." when making a very difficult decision.
Turning back to the city of Kyoto, a panoramic view of the old capital is there.
You may notice that Kyoto is surrounded with mountains in all direction except the south, which means the city used to be a natural fortress.
In addition, streets and avenues there, constructed in the 8th century, are crossed regularily, which shows that people at the time had an excellent city planning.
Kiyomizu-dera temple has been looking over the old capital for 1200 years.
We recommend you to visit there if you are comfortable in walking up on a bit longer uphill. You would be impressed with a panoramic view of Kyoto as well as old street views of the old capital.
Let's get started from the foot of an approach called Sanneizaka. You'll walk on a flat stony path and often go up several series of stone steps. The narrow uphill suggests that it was made long long ago like roads of old towns in Europe.You'll see various kinds of shops selling picture cards, souvenior items, or pottery. The area is very famous for its traditional pottery-making.
It's a good idea to take a rest at a confectionary restaurant, where you can enjoy a combination of green tea and a piece of Japanese cake, sitting on a bench covered with red cloth.
Coming up through the busy street, you'll be in a open space where a red gate, called Niou-mon, stands before you.Here starts the area of a Buddhist temple, Kiyomizu-dera, which refers to a pure water temple. Actually even now it has a spring in the back yard, and people have believed that drinking the water is good for health since the time when it was found.
The Nishi-mon gate and the three-storied pagoda follow on your right. The pagoda is a symbolic component of temple architecture where Buddha's ash is stored and enshrined. That's why it has a high structure with several stories.
Walking up several minutes, you'll finally reach the main building, called Hondo, which was re-built about 400 years ago and keeps its original structure showing a synmetric, elegant appearance.The Buddha image, enshrined in the Hondo, is very unique in having 11 faces and 42 hands. The exaggerated appearance indicates that he has unlimited ability of salvation for all the worldly people. So, for 1200 years, a numerous number of people, suffered from wars and diseases, have visited here to pray peaceful life and ask for good health.The temple, however, makes it a rule to show the image to the public every 33 years, and people usually look at a reprica which stands before a screen hiding the real one. You'll be able to see the genuine idol in 2033.
The floor of Hondo is supported by several wooden pillars and beams that are combined without any nail used. You may be brave enough to look down from the central stage which is about 12 meters high. We often use a phrase that "Jump down from the stage of Kiyomizu temple." when making a very difficult decision.
Turning back to the city of Kyoto, a panoramic view of the old capital is there.You may notice that Kyoto is surrounded with mountains in all direction except the south, which means the city used to be a natural fortress.
In addition, streets and avenues there, constructed in the 8th century, are crossed regularily, which shows that people at the time had an excellent city planning.
Kiyomizu-dera temple has been looking over the old capital for 1200 years.
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