Experts' Choice Award Kiyomizu-dera Temple
What the experts agree on
Kyoto's most iconic temple, famous for sweeping views from its wooden verandah over Higashiyama's forested hills. A World Heritage must-see, reached via charming cobblestone streets lined with tea shops.
Fodor's "Pilgrims have climbed Higashiyama's cobblestone streets lined with tea shops and craft vendors to this gorgeous mountainside temple for centuries." Full review
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Take off your shoes before descending the stairway for a metaphoric journey into the soul
Atlas Obscura "A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child. " Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"Dedicated to merciful Kannon, Kiyomizu-dera dates back to the 8C, although the current buildings date from the 17C." Full review
Time Out "If you only visit one temple in Kyoto, make it this World Heritage behemoth." Full review
U.S. News & World Report2.0
"Situated on Otowa Mountain in eastern Kyoto, Kiyomizu Temple wows travelers with its stunning natural scenery, which visitors say is best viewed from the verandah off the temple's main building" Full review
Frommer's "This is Higashiyama-ku's most famous temple, known throughout Japan for the grand views afforded from its main hall." Full review
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Ask for the English-language pamphlet and be sure to take the ultimate test: On the shrine's grounds are two "love-fortune telling" stones placed 9m (30 ft.
Lonely Planet "Located in eastern Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera literally towers over the city with the help of 139 stilts. During the Edo period, seekers would jump from the temple’s platform to the ground, 13m..."
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Rough Guide "As dusk falls, special illuminations at Kiyomizu-dera and lanterns in the Arashiyama bamboo grove make for an enchanting evening"
Rough Guide "Many will start a visit to Hagashiyama Ward at the renowned Kiyomizu-dera Temple, perched on a hillside with panoramic views of the city"
Lonely Planet "The mountaintop temple Kiyomizu-dera, meaning "pure water," is one of the most famous landmarks in a city rich in temples and shrines. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Kiyomizu-dera is a..."
