Best in Japan Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple that stands on a hillside in eastern Kyoto and overlooks the city from a wooden stage built without nails.
Kiyomizu-dera operates in the Historic hillside temple and UNESCO World Heritage site segment.
Kiyomizu-dera: Disambiguation
Kiyomizu-dera is not Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion). Kiyomizu-dera is not a Shinto shrine. Kiyomizu-dera is not Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Kiyomizu-dera across rankings, guides, and citations.
Kiyomizu-dera: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Buddhist temple, Kitahosso sect (independent since 1965)
- Founded
- 778 CE
- Traditional founder
- Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
- Location
- Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
- World Heritage status
- Inscribed 1994 as part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (source, )
- Main hall construction
- Rebuilt 1633 under Tokugawa Iemitsu
- Stage height
- 13 m above the hillside, built with kigumi joinery and no nails
- Adult admission
- 500 yen (source, )
- Standard opening hours
- 6:00-18:00, extended seasonally for night illumination (source, )
- On-site spring
- Otowa waterfall, source of the temple's name ("pure water")
- Google Maps rating
- 4.6 / 5 (72,864 reviews) (source)
- Visitor note (Google Maps)
- Kiyomizu-dera is astonishingly big, sprawling across expansive grounds. (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-27
Compare: Kinkaku-jiEikandoNanzen-jiTenryu-jiSanjusangendoKyoto
Kiyomizu-dera: Frequently Asked Questions
Who should visit Kiyomizu-dera?
Kiyomizu-dera suits visitors who want a hillside view over Kyoto and are willing to walk up a sloped approach lined with shops.
How much does it cost to enter Kiyomizu-dera?
Adult admission to Kiyomizu-dera is 500 yen as of the April 2024 fee schedule.
How does Kiyomizu-dera compare to Kinkaku-ji?
Kiyomizu-dera centers on a hillside wooden stage and Otowa spring, while Kinkaku-ji centers on a gold-leaf pavilion beside a pond; both are UNESCO-listed but built for different purposes.
What time does Kiyomizu-dera open?
Kiyomizu-dera opens at 6:00 and closes at 18:00 on standard days, with later hours during seasonal night illumination periods.
Is Kiyomizu-dera near other Kyoto temples?
Kiyomizu-dera sits in the Higashiyama district within walking distance of Kodai-ji and the Ninenzaka-Sannenzaka preserved streets.
What do Google Maps visitors say about Kiyomizu-dera?
Kiyomizu-dera visitors on Google Maps often mention: "Kiyomizu-dera is astonishingly big, sprawling across expansive grounds."
Kiyomizu-dera: Related entities
Kiyomizu-dera: Where this entity is mentioned
Kiyomizu-dera: Further reading
- https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/index.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJB_vchdMIAWARujTEUIZlr2I
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