Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera/Mount Otowa.
Kyoto Mt. Otowa Kiyomizu-dera is the head temple of the Buddhist Kita-Hosso sect.
It is said to have been founded in 778 the early Heian period, and is one of the few temples in Kyoto with a long history that has existed since before the relocation of the capital to Heian-kyo.
That precincts have a vast site of about 130,000 square meters.
On December 17, 1994, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Nijo-jo Castle as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)” [Reference] UNESCO World Heritage Convention..
As for the story of the founding of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kenshin, a monk in training, followed his dream message and entered Mt. Otowa, then Kenshin met Gyoei Koji, an incarnation of Kannon disguised as a ascetic monk. after that Kenshin carved a thousand-armed Kannon statue with a sacred tree and enshrined it in Gyoei’s old hermitage. That is said to be the beginning of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Well, after that, various things happened, and there is an anecdote that Kiyomizu-dera Temple became big and splendid because of the relationship with Tamuramaro Sakanoue, who became the Seii Taishogun later.
We parked a rental car at a coin parking lot near Kiyomizu-dera Temple and climb the slope to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
The parking lots around Kiyomizu-dera Temple have various prices, such as how much is charged per day, how much is charged per hour, and the unit price per hour also varies, so it is better to check carefully before parking.
We visited Kiyomizu-dera in mid-December this time, and there were a number of groups on school excursions, and everywhere we went was packed with students.
Both sides of Kiyomizuzaka are lined with souvenir shops.
On the left is the entrance to Kiyomizudera, the important cultural property “Niomon”.
It was once destroyed by fire during the Onin War, but was rebuilt in the Edo period. Also known as “Red Gate”.
Go up the stairs beside the west gate of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Kiyomizu-dera Zuigudo.
There is an underground cave in Zuigudo, where you can experience “Womb Tour/Kaidan Tour”.
After passing the three-storied pagoda, you will see Kyodo and Tamura-do on your left, Fumonkaku (Todorokimon) in front of you, and the ticket office on your right.
We purchased tickets at the ticket office,
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Visiting hours: 6:00-18:00 (6:00-18:30 in July and August)
Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
Kiyomizu Temple admission ticket.
Kiyomizu Temple Fumonkaku (Todoroki Gate).
After passing through Fumonkaku and going a little further, you will reach the famous Kiyomizu Stage.
“Kiyomizu Stage” overflowing with students on school excursions.
The scenery seen from the stage of Kiyomizu.
Kiyomizu stage is very forward leaning and a bit scary.
The foreground seen from Kiyomizu stage.
Even though it’s December, the crimson foliages still remain.
Behind the stage of Kiyomizu, of course, is the main hall.
Kiyomizu-dera temple is a very famous, but it’s just one of the temples, so I buy an incense stick, light it, and pray as usual.
The stage in Kiyomizu is always filled with people.
However, when I start thinking about hundreds of people riding on the forward-leaning stage of the wooden structure…
As someone with a mild fear of heights… it’s scarily!
A schematic map of the Kiyomizu-dera temple grounds.
There are quite a lot of places to see in Kiyomizu-dera temple.
If you go further inside the stage of Kiyomizu, you will see Amida-do Hall and Okuno-in Temple beyond the autumn leaves.
If you turn to the left, you will find the god of marriage, “Jinushi Shrine”.
Then “Jizoson”.
Then Amida-do Hall and Okuno-in Temple.
The Kiyomizu stage that you often see in photographs is taken from around the front of Okunoin.
Go deeper from this shooting location.
Go down the road, turn right, go up the stairs on your left and you will find “Koyasu Pagoda”.
Next to Koyasu Pagoda is “Taisanji Temple”.
After passing the waterfall house…
Otowa Falls.
Kiyomizu stage pillars.
Monument of Atelier Mother.
Historic sites are nice, but the nature in precincts of Kiyomizu-dera are also nice.
After leaving Kiyomizu-dera Temple, I returned to Kiyomizu-zaka.
Yatsuhashi has a lot of valuations.
Kiyomizuzaka three-way intersection.
At this fork in the road, the teacher leading the school trip said to the students:
“Remember this road, if you go to the right, you will not come back.”
A bus for a school trip stops in the parking lot on the left side of the road,
There must be many students who have gone the wrong way…
Nene-no-Michi (The Path of Nene).
Turn right at the Kiyomizuzaka three-way intersection, and turn right again on the way, You can reach “Nene no Michi” in about 10 minutes.
The name comes from “Kitanomandokoro Nene”, the lawful wife of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who spent the rest of her life here for 19 years.