KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE + JISHU SHRINE | KYOTO MAR 2017

ATTENTION:

Kiyomizudera’s main hall is under renovation and has covered up from February 2017 to March 2020 for its roof. The cover has scheduled to be completed in June 2017. Visitors are still able to enter the main hall during the renovations.

Before approaching to the Kiyomizudera Temple, this is the busy Higashiyama district lined by dozens of shops and restaurants that have been catering to pilgrims and tourists for centuries.

The Higashiyama District is one of the best preserved historic districts to experience the traditional of old Kyoto, where the narrow lanes, wooden buildings and traditional merchant shops preserve the feeling of the old capital city.

These businesses have retained their traditional design to attract many tourists to travel down.

Their opening hours are usually from 9am or 10am in the morning to 5pm or 6pm in the evening, unless there are special occasions which will have extended hours such as Hanatoro during March. It took us half an hour to finish this whole 2km long shopping district. But I would recommend to spend half a day around the area if you are planning to include this in your itinerary.

End of this shopping district, we will reach the main entrance towards Kiyomizudera Temple.

What about looking back?

After this entrance, we climbed up about 10 big flights of stairs to reach this beautiful temple.

This was outside Kiyomizudera Temple. Walk around before going in.

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It cost ¥300 (SGD$3.76) for adult and ¥200 (SGD$2.50) for children to access into Kiyomizudera Temple. TAISHA-17

Kiyomizudera Temple (清水寺) was founded in 780 on the site of Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto. 清水寺 also known as “Pure Water Temple” was named after the Otowa Waterfall’s pure water.

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It stands on the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and allows the visitors to have a good view over the Kyoto city from its famous wooden terrace. Especially during spring and autumn where numerous cherry and maple trees erupt from below.

Right behind the Kiyomizudera’s main hall stands a shrine, Jishu Shrine, where it dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking.

In front of the shrine, there are two stones placed 18m apart. There is a saying that goes like this: if you have successfully find your way from one stone to the other stone with your eyes closed, it will bring luck in finding love. Another saying is if you find someone to guide you from one stone to the other stone, it means that an intermediary will be needed in finding your love. How true it is, I do not know. Try it and let me know.

There’s the end of the walk.

♥INFORMATION♥

WHEN

Date of Visiting: 11 Mar 17
Opening Hours for Kiyomizudera Temple: (weekday) 6:00am – 18:00pm / (weekend) 6:00am – 18:30pm
Opening Hours along Higashiyama District: 10:00am – 18:00pm
Duration Spent: 2 hrs

ADMISSION

Adult: ¥300 (SGD$3.76)
Children: ¥200 (SGD$2.50)

WHERE

English Address: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku
Japanese Address: 東山区清水1-294

ACCESS

Nearest Train Station: Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan line)
Transport fees: ¥270 (SGD$3.39)
Use Kyoto Station as a starting point for guidance.

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From Kyoto Station.
Go to JR Nara line.
Go to platform 8-9.
Take the local train (not served by rapid train) which stated outside the train.
Alight at JR Tofukuji Station (next station from Kyoto Station).
Go out from JR line and change to Keihan line.
Board at Tofukuji Station (Keihan line) and alight at Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan line).
13 mins walk to Higashiyama district from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan line) and then another 15 mins walk uphill to Kiyomizudera Temple.