This magnificent structure is Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Japan.

Here's part of why it's so popular!

A stage that makes you feel suspended in space.

Five million people come to see it every year.

"Kiyomizu" means pure water.

As we tour the temple grounds, we'll see why water is so important here.

We'll also see some things that will surprise you.

Using the route map, we'll show you how to conquer Kiyomizu-dera's best sightseeing in two hours.

Animation and images will make everything easy to understand and remember.

So get ready for a fascinating tour of history in a lovely natural setting.

The perfect 2-hour guide to Kiyomizu-dera Temple starts now!

Kiyomizu-dera is a 15-minute bus ride from Kyoto Station.

After you hop off the bus, it's a 10-minute stroll.

The temple is often thronged with visitors.

Starting early helps beat the crowds.

Let's take a closer look at the route map!

Our tour is divided into three areas.

Area 1 features a pagoda and an interesting shrine.

We'll hear some of the temple's secret history.

Area 2 focuses on the Main Hall, where we'll see the temple's principal image, and the stage that makes Kiyomizu-dera so famous.

In Area 3, we'll view the stage from different angles, visit a sacred spring, and dive deeper into the story of Kiyomizu-dera.

Let's get this tour on the road.

First, we make a quick stop at this little shrine on the left, before the main gate.

Must-See No.1: Shrine to Kannon and Jizo

You'll see three types of Buddhist images in the shrine.

Look closer, at the one in the middle.

Kannon is the bodhisattva of compassion.

Kiyomizu-dera is dedicated to Kannon worship.

They touch their cheek, pondering how to help humanity.

They also hold up a wheel that symbolizes the teachings of Buddhism.

Outside is another interesting statue, this time of the bodhisattva Jizo.

This image is special.

You can turn its head.

If you turn it toward the home of a person you like, they say you'll be lucky in love.

It's worth a try!

The statue was donated by local residents.

Kiyomizu-dera is an important part of the local community.

Let's review a little history to make things even more interesting as we go along.

Kiyomizu-dera was founded in 778 and is dedicated to Kannon.

Kannon worship is a popular form of Buddhism in Japan.

The stage is the symbol of Kiyomizu-dera.

Built in 1633, it stands 13 meters above the valley floor, to honor Kannon with performances of traditional arts.

Let's turn back and head up those steps.

That's where we'll find Must-See Number 2.

It's this vermilion gate.

Must-See No. 2: Nio-mon

This is the Nio-mon Gate.

It's 14 meters high, and has stood here for 500 years.

Two statues guard the steps leading to the gate.

These sacred animals protect the temple from evil.

You might see them at other temples and shrines too.

Let's climb the 21 steps to the gate.

At the top, we'll see how it got its name.

Nio, the Deva kings are on guard to stop any enemies of Buddhism.

Each figure is almost four meters tall.

They look extremely powerful.

The guardian animals and Deva kings are always on guard to keep Kiyomizu-dera safe and secure.

At the top of the steps, you'll see familiar Japanese flowers.

Aren't they beautiful?

If you time your visit right in spring, with some luck, the temple will greet you with a thousand trees in full bloom.

Let's continue on, past the tree.

We'll find a mysterious carving in stone.

Must-See No. 3: Stone Lamp with Animal

This is a stone lamp.

You can see an animal carved on its surface.

Can you tell what it is?

That's right - a tiger.

Pay attention to the eyes.

This is no ordinary carving.

Wherever you stand, the eyes follow you.

Isn't that amazing?

There's even a legend that after sundown, the tiger leaves the lamp and prowls the temple grounds.

Another guardian who keeps Kiyomizu-dera safe.

There's a second legendary creature we should see.

Not far from the stone lamp we find... dragons!

Dragons traditionally serve the element of water.

They're a natural fit for a temple whose name means pure water.

Elapsed time is now around 15 minutes.

Moving on, we'll climb this long stairway.

At the top, look to the right. This is our next stop.

Must-See No. 4: View through the West Gate

This is the West Gate of Kiyomizu-dera.

In Buddhism, west is the direction of the Pure Land, the paradise of the buddha Amitabha.

The gate is a frame for the view toward the west.

Here, believers can visualize the paradise of the Pure Land.

Sunset is really special.

You can clear your mind and picture the Pure Land as the sun goes down.

This is actually one form of Buddhist prayer.

You're sure to feel a sense of peace.

The views around the West Gate are not to be missed either.

Kyoto is spread out below you with the vermillion gate in the foreground.

Must-See Number 5 is here too.

Must-See No. 5: Three-story Pagoda

This magnificent pagoda is 31 meters tall and dates to 1632.

Check out its gorgeous vermillion and the images at the tip of the eaves.

The southwest corner has a demon.

On the northwest corner, you'll find another demon.

Next, let's make our way to the southeast corner.

Any idea of what we might find there?

Here, there's a dragon.

Remember, dragons are associated with water.

This dragon is very important.

Since it was founded 12 centuries ago, fire has destroyed Kiyomizu-dera many times.

In 1629, the three-story pagoda burned down.

The new pagoda added this dragon as protection from fire.

And sure enough, there hasn't been a fire for 400 years.

The dragon must be doing its job.

Now let's head for the stairs just beyond that old shrine.

At the bottom, some pretty cherry blossoms.

There are many species of cherry tree.

This one has pink blossoms and drooping branches.

The tree beside it has white flowers.

You can find two species of cherry growing next to each other.

Let's keep walking.

There's another must-see.

Must-See No. 6: Shinto Shrine

This shrine was built in the 17th century.

What's interesting is that it is not a Buddhist shrine. It's Shinto.

There wasn't always a clear distinction between Buddhism and Shinto.

It wasn't unusual to find Shinto shrines on the grounds of Buddhist temples, and vice versa.

In the 19th century, due to state level policy changes, the two religions came to be kept separate.

But this shrine remains on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera.

You'll understand why after the next must-see.

Must-See No. 7: Group of Buddha Images

All of these statues represent buddhas and bodhisattvas.

There are several hundreds of them.

Why so many in one place?

Remember that in the 19th century, government policy shifted to an emphasis on Shinto.

There was even a movement to abolish Buddhism.

Many Buddhist images were destroyed.

Buddhist books were burned, and temples were damaged.

Some were forced to close their doors.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple had 90 percent of its land confiscated.

These images were brought to Kiyomizu-dera by the Buddhist faithful in Kyoto.

They hoped that here at the temple, the images would be safe.

Today, Kiyomizu-dera is known throughout the world.

But it saw many upheavals in its 1200 years of history.

We'll walk past the Buddhist images and veer left.

We can take a breather at the next must-see, which is right here.

Must-See No. 8: Jojuin

Before we talk about the building, let's pause to look at the pond.

We can relax here for a bit.

There's a nice Japanese garden that wild birds visit.

Kiyomizu.

Pure water.

Tranquility and peace.

The building facing the pond is called Jojuin.

Beyond it is another garden, called the Moon Garden.

It's famous for the reflection of the moon in the pond.

Unfortunately, it's only open to the public for short times in spring and autumn.

But it's well worth the effort to visit.

Elapsed time is now about 35 minutes.

We've completed our tour of Area 1.

Before we move on to Area 2, here's something to consider if you have extra time!

Two Hours Plus!

Welcome. Your helicopter is waiting.

Why not take time for a helicopter tour of Kyoto?

The 15-minute flight over Kiyomizu-dera is a popular option.

Liftoff!

Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto spreads out beneath you.

There's the temple, at one o'clock.

On the right, 242-meter Mt. Otowa.

And there's Kiyomizu-dera.

From the air, you can see how the temple was built into the mountain slope.

That's the pagoda and the other buildings in Area 1.

The big roof belongs to the Main Hall.

Flight time is limited, but you can get a panoramic view of the temple from the air.

If you have extra time, a sky stroll over Kiyomizu-dera is unforgettable.

On to Area 2!

We'll see the Main Hall and the famous stage that forms part of it.

This is our route.

First we'll learn about the temple's origin story.

Then we'll head for the Main Hall.

After a visit to the principal Kannon image, we can enjoy the view from the stage.

We'll cover six must-see sights over 40 minutes.

Let's go!

The first must-see is the shrine on the left.

Must-See No. 9: Tamura-do Shrine

The person enshrined here is named Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro.

He was an 8th-century military leader who had a deep connection to the founding of Kiyomizu-dera.

Tamuramaro was hunting on Mount Otowa when he encountered a monk named Enchin at Otowa waterfall.

Enchin told him that Kannon would bless him if he refrained from taking life.

Tamuramaro was deeply moved, and resolved to found a temple with Enchin's help.

He dismantled his own mansion and used the materials to build Kiyomizu-dera.

This 16th-century mandala shows the temple and its surroundings.

It depicts Tamura-do Shrine and people praying before a statue of Tamuramaro.

Images of Enchin and Tamuramaro are enshrined here today.

Now it's time for us to head for the Main Hall, the center of devotion for the whole temple.

First we need a ticket.

We'll pass through the gate before the Main Hall.

The Main Hall is at the end of this 14 meter long gallery.

We're about to enter a sacred place.

Exciting, isn't it?

But there's something to see before we go further.

It's on the side of the building, under the windows.

Must-See No. 10: Channel Worn in Wood

See that beam on the wall below the windows?

It has a groove in it.

The groove was left by generations of worshippers circling the hall as they prayed to Kannon.

Believers used to walk all through the night.

This is where we are.

The faithful walked all the way around the hall.

Holding bundles of bamboo sticks, they would press one against the hall to guide them in the dark.

Over time, the sticks wore this groove in the wood.

After each walk around the hall, worshippers would drop one stick.

That's how they counted the number of circuits.

The groove bears silent witness to the devotion of Kannon's worshippers.

The next must-see is just a few steps away.

You're sure to want to test yourself on this one.

Must-See No. 11: Large and Small Metal Staffs

These two huge staffs are made of metal.

The small one weighs 14 kilos. The big one is 90 kilos.

They say if you can pick them up, your prayers will be answered.

But you have to shake their rings first.

Think you have what it takes?

Oh well, it was worth a try.

Maybe on the next visit!

A few more steps and we arrive at Must-See Number 12.

Must-See No. 12: Daikokuten

That's a unique face!

This statue looks new, but in fact was restored in 2008.

It's a deity named Daikokuten, the god of wealth.

This image has an interesting connection with Kiyomizu-dera.

Take a look at the mandala again.

Today, Daikokuten is in the Main Hall, in the center of the mandala.

But the 16th century depiction shows him outside the temple, on an island in the river.

He was lucky enough to be moved into the temple grounds,

and eventually into the Main Hall itself, the center of Kannon worship.

Many visitors to Kiyomizu-dera hope to share in Daikokuten's luck.

It's time to visit the principal image of Kannon, also known as the honzon.

And then, the Kiyomizu stage!

Here's the route.

The honzon is in the inner shrine of the Main Hall.

The stage extends from the Main Hall.

This is the most sacred area within Kiyomizu-dera, so there's no photography.

We'll be using computer graphics and official photos to show what it's like.

Ready?

Past Daikokuten, walk three meters and turn the corner.

It's another five meters to where we remove our shoes and step up.

Then straight ahead.

Must-See No. 13: Thousand-armed Kannon

The principal image of Kiyomizu-dera, the statue of the Eleven-headed Thousand-armed Kannon Bodhisattva,

is enclosed within the innermost shrine.

But we can get an idea of what it looks like.

A two-meter bronze disc near the ceiling shows the appearance of the sacred image.

Kannon uses their many arms to help ease the sufferings of humanity.

There is a small buddha at the crown of their head.

This sort of Buddhist iconography is very rare in Japan.

We've gained a sense of the sacred nature of Kannon.

Let's retrace our steps and make our way out to the stage.

Must-See No. 14: View from the Kiyomizu Stage

Photography isn't allowed in this location. We'll use CG.

The stage is about 200 square meters. The planks are Japanese cypress.

The view is unsurpassed.

It's easy to see why so many visitors linger here.

By the way, taking outward-facing photos of the view from the stage is just fine, so feel free.

But the vistas from the stage aren't the only reason for its popularity.

It's also the setting for a classic kabuki play.

One day Seigen, a monk of Kiyomizu-dera, encountered the beautiful Princess, Sakura.

For him, it was love at first sight.

But her heart belonged to someone else.

In the play, Seigen dies, but his ghost refuses to give up.

Princess Sakura uses her umbrella to leap from the stage of Kiyomizu-dera and escape.

The scene became a meme for the temple.

Naturally, the story is fiction.

Don't try this yourself, it's extremely dangerous.

Traditional arts are still regularly performed on the stage as an offering to Kannon.

Let's cross to the opposite side and the rear of the Main Hall.

From here on, photography is okay.

This completes our tour of Area 2.

How did you like it?

Before we advance to Area 3, here's something extra for those with time to spare!

Two Hours Plus!

Many sloping streets lead to Kiyomizu-dera.

Let's take a little walk.

There are five historic streets within a 10-minute distance.

Sannei-zaka street is one of the temple's approaches.

One of its shops has been in business for more than 150 years.

These dried bottle gourds are now traditional craft items.

Long ago, there were no canteens.

These are what travelers used for carrying drinking water.

Just the thing for a long walk on the steep mountain.

Then there's Chawan-zaka, or Bowl Street.

It got its name from kilns there that made Kiyomizu ware.

Today there's a museum where you can see masterpieces by local potters.

The sloping streets leading to the temple are must-see locations in themselves.

Be sure to include them in your visit.

Let's start Area 3 of our Perfect 2-Hour Tour of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

We'll stop by a place with a wonderful view of the stage.

Then we'll stroll in natural beauty to a place where you can see the whole stage and the Main Hall.

We'll dig further into temple history, and examine the huge structure holding up the stage.

Finally, we'll experience a beautiful water vista at Kiyomizu-dera.

Elapsed time is about an hour and 15 minutes.

Let's experience the Kiyomizu stage from another angle.

But before that, there's Must-See Number 15!

Must-See No. 15: Amida-do Shrine

This shrine holds an image of Amida Buddha, or Amitabha, from the 17th century.

Amida is the lord of the Western Pure Land.

Look closely at what surrounds the image.

Hundreds of tiny buddhas - in fact, a thousand in all.

In the Pure Land, Amida instructs sentient beings in the teachings of Buddha.

To the left of Amida is an image of another religious figure; Honen, of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan.

He first practiced the ritual recitation of Amida's name in this same shrine.

Kiyomizu-dera welcomes everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs.

A deep capacity for tolerance is one of the things that draws people to this temple.

Our next must-see is not far away.

It's behind the next shrine.

Must-See No. 16: Small Kannon Image

This image of Kannon is less than a meter tall.

There's a special way to pray to it.

Let's see how it's done.

First, fill the ladle with water.

Pour the water directly over the image of Kannon.

By pouring water on Kannon, you wash away your troubles and sins.

Kannon is believed to be the incarnation of water.

Just as they take compassionate action to fit any situation, water adapts itself to any container.

Moreover, the water here flows from Mt. Otowa and is regarded as sacred.

There will be more encounters with famous water spots as we go along!

Now let's explore the Kiyomizu stage from different angles.

Oh, there it is.

Must-See No. 17: View from Okuno-in

The cameras are busy!

No one can resist taking a picture from this vantage point.

You can see the whole stage, and how it projects out into space.

Constructed on wooden latticework without any metal nails, the supporting pillars have stood for 400 years.

But at first, Kiyomizu-dera had no stage.

Here's a side view of the Main Hall today.

The original structure looked like this.

Later, as the number of visitors grew, the structure was gradually extended further outward from the mountain.

You could say the stage embodies the strong faith of the people who came to worship here.

Their devotion to Kannon gave birth to an architectural marvel.

From the stage, the view of the changing seasons is unforgettable.

The autumn forest is flaming red.

Let's head for the next must-see.

This walking path is known as Sakura Road.

Sakura means "cherry," of course.

Come in spring and there's a good chance you'll see them in bloom.

We'll go almost all the way to the bottom.

On the left, there's a stairway going up.

After a short climb, we arrive at the next must-see.

Must-See No. 18: Kiyomizu Stage from the Pagoda

This pagoda is a little smaller than the one by the West Gate.

It dates to 1500.

It's a shrine for Kannon, who helps women give birth safely to healthy babies.

If we walk down the slope just a short distance...

Here.

We can see the stage from this angle too.

Impressive!

All the major buildings are lined up in a row.

There's the three-story pagoda, the brown roof of the Tamura-do Shrine, and the majestic form of the Main Hall and the stage.

Together the buildings form a striking, harmonious whole.

Elapsed time is about an hour and 35 minutes.

We'll retrace our steps and continue toward the left, to the place where it all started.

Must-See No. 19: Otowa Waterfall

Sacred water flows from Mt. Otowa.

The little shrine atop the wall holds a special mythical creature.

It's a dragon, the servant of water.

In the twelve hundred years since Kiyomizu-dera was built, these streams of water have never stopped.

This is how things looked in the 16th century.

Some people are bathing and praying in the water, others have brought buckets to collect it.

People still come here to drink the water.

Climb the stairs to the shrine to first pay your respects.

It's a little hard to see, but the image of a Buddhist deity is enshrined here.

Grab one of the long ladles.

Tradition says you should choose a single stream to drink from.

While you drink, remember that this water has been cherished for over 1,200 years.

Enchin the Buddhist monk discovered this spring.

His discovery led to the birth of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

One day Enchin had a dream.

A voice told him, "Go north."

Enchin found a golden stream and followed it.

He came to a mysterious ascetic, practicing beneath a waterfall.

The ascetic told him, "Build a temple to Kannon in this sacred place."

Then he disappeared.

Realizing the ascetic was an incarnation of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, Enchin followed the instructions.

Soon he would build Kiyomizu-dera with the help from Tamuramaro.

This was the origin of Kiyomizu-dera, the Temple of Pure Water.

Elapsed time is about an hour and 50 minutes.

Now then, let's circle back.

At our next stop, we'll get a close-up view of the stage's structure.

Must-See No. 20: Kiyomizu Stage Supporting Structure

Look at this massive wooden scaffolding!

The stage is supported by 18 large zelkova pillars.

The longest is 12 meters.

Some of these trees were 400 years old when they were felled.

The supporting members were assembled vertically and horizontally

using Japanese construction technology for dispersing shocks, especially during earthquakes.

These small sloping boards direct rain away from the pillars.

Japan is a rainy place, and wood has to be kept dry in order to last.

Thanks to their advanced design, these majestic pillars have stood for 400 years, just as you see them now.

This engineering marvel was the fruit of people's passionate devotion to Kannon,

and centuries of Japanese wisdom in building with wood.

Now maybe you can understand why this temple attracts people from all over the world.

Let's go straight along this little path.

We'll find a monument to a historical episode that speaks to Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro's character.

Must-See No. 21: Tamuramaro and His Rivals

The names Aterui and More are carved on the monument.

Both men were the rulers of regions in northern Japan, and rivals of Tamuramaro.

Around the turn of the ninth century, the emperor ordered Tamuramaro to subdue their forces, which were resisting imperial rule.

After fierce fighting, both men surrendered to Tamuramaro.

Though they were his enemies, Tamuramaro had come to respect both men as fearless leaders.

When he returned to Kyoto with his prisoners, he appealed to the emperor to spare their lives.

But...

Sadly, his efforts failed. The two men were executed.

This monument was erected at Kiyomizu-dera 12 centuries after their deaths,

as a token of their connection with Tamuramaro and through him, with Kiyomizu-dera.

In a temple dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion, Tamuramaro's compassion is remembered.

One more must-see and our tour is complete.

Our wrap-up fits perfectly with the theme of water.

Must-See No. 22: View from Hojo-ike Pond

"Hojo" is a Japanese word that means to release a creature from captivity.

The name of this pond evokes Kannon's compassionate heart.

The pond is our last must-see and a fitting one for Kiyomizu-dera, temple of pure water.

Let's take one last look at Kiyomizu-dera reflected in the pond.

It's been two hours, and we've seen so much!

And now, for a look back.

In Area 1, we visited a small shrine, a gate, and a pagoda, and explored the secret history of Kiyomizu-dera.

In Area 2, we learned about the founding of the temple, then visited the Main Hall.

After paying our respects to Kannon, we stood on the Kiyomizu stage.

In Area 3, we viewed the stage from different angles.

We also visited several sites connected with Kiyomizu, or pure water.

Did you enjoy our two-hour tour of one of Kyoto's most important temples?

You saw how Kiyomizu-dera is a temple of water, and a center of Kannon worship.

You experienced the beauty of the Kiyomizu stage and the secrets of its eternal appeal.

That's all for now.

See you on the next two-hour perfect tour!

Arigato!

Sayonara!