Buddhist templeKyoto · JP
Kiyomizu-dera
Perched on the mid-slope of Mount Otowa in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, Kiyomizu-dera is one of Japan's most celebrated temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded in 778—before Kyoto even became the capital—its vast grounds spread over 130,000 square meters and encompass more than thirty historic buildings, including a National Treasure main hall and the famous wooden stage that seems to float above the hillside. The temple belongs to the Kita-Hossō sect of Buddhism and is dedicated to the Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kannon, whose hidden statue resides in the main hall. From the panoramic view atop its nail-free wooden veranda to the sacred Otowa Waterfall below, Kiyomizu-dera offers one of the most emotionally resonant temple experiences in all of Japan.