Kiyomizu-dera 🇯🇵

Kiyomizu-dera, officially named Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera and translated as the Pure Water Monastery, is a historic Buddhist temple situated in the eastern foothills of Mount Otowa in Kyoto, Japan. As part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site, this active landmark is the sixteenth stop along the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route and stands as one of the city's few temples established prior to the founding of Heian-kyo. Today, the complex serves as the head temple of the Kita-Hosso sect and remains a prominent site for worshipping Kannon, drawing pilgrims and visitors throughout the year.

According to traditional records, the monastery's origins begin in 778 when the monk Enchin followed a dream to a waterfall on Mount Otowa, where he met an ascetic named Gyoei Koji and enshrined a hand-carved statue of Kannon. In 780, the military leader Sakanoue no Tamuramaro visited the mountain while hunting and was persuaded to abandon taking life, prompting him to donate his own residence as the main hall. Officially recognized in 810 by Emperor Saga, the temple was repeatedly damaged by fires over subsequent centuries, including destructions in 1165 and 1469. Most of the present structures, including the main hall restored through donations from Tokugawa Iemitsu, date to the early seventeenth century.

The center of the complex is its primary hall, constructed in 1633 entirely without nails. Built in the kakezukuri style, its expansive veranda extends out over the hillside on tall wooden pillars, offering wide views across Kyoto. Directly beneath this platform lies the Otowa waterfall, where pure water flows into three distinct streams; visitors traditionally collect and drink from these channels, which are believed to possess wish-granting powers. Nearby, visitors can also walk through the Tainai Meguri, a completely dark tunnel designed to represent the womb of the bodhisattva Daizuiku Bosatsu.

Beyond the central hall, the temple grounds host numerous designated Important Cultural Properties, including a three-story pagoda, historic gates, specialized halls, and the Joju-in Gardens. Within the complex lies Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Okuninushi, where visitors navigate between two stones set ten meters apart to seek good fortune in romance. The site offers paper fortunes, charms, and market stalls during New Year celebrations and summer obon gatherings. Additionally, the landmark hosts the annual Kanji of the Year ceremony every December and remains tied to the famous Japanese expression referencing a jump from its high veranda to take a major risk.

Kiyomizu-dera in pictures