Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-13 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
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Our guide
Kiyomizu-dera is one of the few temples in Kyoto older than the city itself: with Kōryū-ji and Kurama-dera, it predates the founding of the capital at Heian-kyō. It is one of Japan's leading temples of Kannon worship, stop 16 on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and its principal image, an eleven-headed Kannon, is a hidden Buddha kept from view. Since 1995 it has also been where the Kanji of the Year is announced, every 12 December.
The temple opens early in the morning, and in some weeks each year it holds evening special openings, which change from year to year. There is no car park, so come by bus or on foot: from JR Kyoto Station, city buses to Gojōzaka leave you about 10 minutes' walk away.
It starts a good walk through eastern Kyoto: Kōdai-ji is about 0.7 km away in a straight line, Yasaka Shrine about 1.1 km, and Gion District about 1.3 km.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto, November 2016 -02 — Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera in 2013-5-2 No,12 — Mti · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera amidado — KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera Okunoin — KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera4 — Vitalie Ciubotaru · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera3 — Vitalie Ciubotaru · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera,Nioumon — Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Kiyomizu-dera,Kita sou mon — Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Jyojyuin — 小倉商事 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Japan Kyoto KiyoMizuDera entrance DSC00604 — David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺, 'Pure Water Monastery') is a Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Kita-Hosso sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon is a hibutsu statue of Jūichimen Kannon. The temple's full name is Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山 清水寺). The temple is the 16th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. Along with Kōryū-ji and Kurama-dera, it is one of the few temples in Kyoto that predates the foundation of the capital to Heian-kyō.It is also one of Japan's leading temples dedicated to the worship of Kannon, along with Ishiyama-dera (Ōtsu, Shiga) and Hase-dera (Sakurai, Nara). It is a famous tourist destination in Kyoto City, attracting many pilgrims throughout the year. Since 1995, it holds the Kanji of the Year ceremony on 12 December (Kanji Day) every year.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-13 · Kiyomizu-dera: opening hours · Kiyomizu-dera: visiting and access
Background text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Getting there by public transport
- From JR Kyoto Station: City Bus 206 (toward Kitaōji Bus Terminal via Higashiyama-dōri) or 100 (toward Kiyomizu-dera, Gion and Ginkaku-ji) to “Gojōzaka”, then about 10 minutes on foot; Kyoto Bus 18 (weekends and holidays only) also stops at Gojōzaka.
- From Keihan Gion-Shijō Station: City Bus 207 (toward Tōfuku-ji and Kujō Depot) to “Kiyomizu-michi”, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- From Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojō Station: about 25 minutes on foot.
- There is no car park at the temple.
Route checked: 2026-09-13 · Kiyomizu-dera: opening hours · Kiyomizu-dera: visiting and access · Timetables change — check the operator before you travel.
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