Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This most-visited temple in Kyoto was built to honor Kannon, the goddess of mercy. It's beautiful hillside location offers spectacular views of the city and valley below.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Gelatin
    Hythe, United Kingdom36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This places was breath taking!
    After waking up the steep but beautiful street we entered the main gate. It was flooded with so many people but was so breathtaking. We walked further to by a ticket to get within the temple (very cheap!). The views were to die for -yet crowded! The shrines were so picturesque, but remember that were there is art, there is a queue!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 October 2023
  • Karin
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the visit!
    Marvelous temple, very beautiful, but take good walking shoes because the way up to the temple can be hard on the legs and feet. Other than that, the 400 yen cover was worth it! Beautiful views, stunning nature passages, and the calm sense of nature and peace will welcome you as you walk along the different kinds of paths that there are to discover in this temple. There is also a part of the temple that is under construction, but nothing that will hinder the other views. The little store that sells amulets and Omikuji fortune draws opens at 8:30 am, so take a good jacket if you're going in the early morning, since the temperatures can reach the 50's and you will freeze.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 November 2023
  • BlessedAloy
    Singapore, Singapore74 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice place for photos
    Good for photo. Have lots of very nice cafe. However, it was a gradual climb up, hence take your time and explore. If you need support walking, then can skip this place as there are similar places in Kyoto.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 27 November 2023
  • vickicork
    Tampa, Florida429 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice temple
    Maybe the best place in Kyoto to visit . We went at 6 .30 am in the morning and it was wonderful . Took a cab up from the hotel and then walked down the steep slope to the bus top back to the station hotel . The views are outstanding , highly recommend
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 December 2023
  • drlcs1
    366 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Autumn colors in this temple are an experience to behold
    Incredibly beautiful castle to visit. Peak autumn colors when we visited. Brilliant red leaves juxtaposed against the temple. Amazing even the glow of late afternoon /sunset. Experience of a lifetime
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 December 2023
  • Aubry C
    92 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great with teens- plus a tip on leaving the area to avoid crowds.
    This is a must see in Kyoto! We traveled with three teens and they loved it- so much to see, hear, smell and learn about. Great views of Kyoto as well. The “main” little path through the village is good to do once (up to the temple, or down from). Upon exiting the temple, look for the stairs/road the goes to the left… it will take you down a quiet neighborhood road with more tourist shops and food.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 December 2023
  • Wags1963
    Melbourne, Australia103 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best temples to see
    Loved this temple, amazing views over the beautiful city of Kyoto. Lovely to walk around and take in the culture of Japan. The side streets up to the temple are well worth a look as they are traditional Japanese streets and we just loved it here
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 January 2024
  • Gina Seh
    Singapore, Singapore2,003 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Big beautiful Buddhist temple
    It was a nice stroll uphill to the temple. The street leading to the temple was lively, filled with tourists exploring the many restaurants and shops. We enjoyed some good food and people-watching from the restaurant we went. The temple was spacious even though there were a lot of tourists. It was a Buddhist temple with multiple prayer halls if you would like to light an incense and pray. Beautiful both in daylight and nighttime.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 4 February 2024
  • Wood77
    Los Angeles, California3,285 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Artistic temple
    We took public bus to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It was a long hike up hill to the temple grounds. Along the alley upward, you will encounter many shops selling treats, food and souvenirs. Even during pouring rain when we visited, there were still so many people, shoulder to shoulder, trekking up to the temple. The temple was built without nails reflecting skills of Japanese carpentry. Up against the veranda, you can see scenic Kyoto below.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 February 2024
  • John and Deb K
    Karratha, Australia822 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sakura in Bloom adds to the Temple Magesty
    What a wonderful temple and take in the sites. It's a bit of a walk up hill but there are places to stop and lots of shops on the way selling food, drinks and gifts. With Sakura in full bloom the temple area is spectacular. loads of visitors many young dressed up in kimonos adding more colour to an already wonderful sight.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles11,728 reviews
Excellent
6,423
Very good
3,950
Average
1,145
Poor
166
Terrible
44

Patrick O
Mount Holly, NC1,141 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We went here late in the afternoon as part of a tour with Sunrise Travel. It was between Christmas and New Year's so it was busy. This is really a beautiful place to see with great views of Kyoto as well. There are a number of steps to walk up to get to the colrful pagoda shaped temples but unless you are in really poor phyisical shape, it should be no problem.You will be rewarded with great views of the city and even though it was starting to get dark by the time we had finished exploring, the pagoda's lit up make for a beautiful sight as well. There are shrines and temples throughout and you can walk down into wonderful gardens Be sure to go all the way up to see everything as there is a lot to see. It was crowded but not to the point of not enjoyable. There is a lively shopping area down below that is worth checking out. Aloow lots of time and enjoy!
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jacqui F
London, UK311 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
This enchanting temple, perched atop steep and narrow streets, is a treat to encounter at the golden hour of sunset. With Mount Otawa above, and Kyoto at its feet, the view is incredible. Built in the 17th Century, the stage in front of the main hall is an incredible feat of engineering. When you are on the stage itself, enjoying the view and being serenaded by prayer bells, you feel as if the stage is floating. It’s only when you walk down through the complex that you truly appreciate the structure. It sits on a vast scaffold of wood, constructed without the use of nails. The name Kiyomizu literally means Pure Water, and the temple is named for the waterfall it was built beside. The waterfall has been canalised into streams of water that can be used for washing hands and mouth for purification. It’s a magical place to visit, and at a very reasonable cost of 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children up to high school age, you’ll want to make a donation of some kind within the complex to help with the upkeep.
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Padraig M
Kawasaki, Japan94 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Kyomizu-dera is one of my favourite places in Kyoto and we have gone there every time we have visited. I love the trees and how the temple is situated on the side of the mountain. Normally it is packed, but when we visited in August 2020, it was completely empty and very special experience. I recommend people in Japan to go before it gets crowded again next year.
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom H
Santa Cruz, CA403 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
This is my favorite temple in Kyoto. The location is walkable from anywhere in Eastern Kjoto and a pleasant walk through Mariyuma Park afterwards is a bonus. The approach to the temple from the East is atmospheric with pedestrian walkways and interesting shops and restaurants. Walking up the temple steps itself is a treat as the buildings are large and well decorated. There are three features you don’t want to miss. As you approach the main temple with the deck on the right, veer to the left and find the line for the “womb” room. A friendly volunteer will ask you to remove your shoes, pay a small fee, and instruct you to descend down a ramp into total darkness while holding a rope attached to the left side of the ramp. You then wander around in the dark, holding the rope, until a round rotating rock appears in the gloom which you rub and make the one wish you are allowed! You emerge from the dark reborn! Then spend some time on the massive deck of the temple enjoying the view of the hillside before following the crowd down to a small pavilion built into the rocks with a stream passing overhead where you select a cup attached to a long metal poll. Use the device to capture a cup of water and drink it to ensure a long and healthy life. The cups are cleaned after each use by a boxy contraption that sanitizes them in ultra violet light.
Written 9 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel Setiawan
South Tangerang, Indonesia169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Before you see the temple, you will walk into historic road full of shops and it is very crowded. The temple it self is under renovation but you can still enter the temple. There is otowa waterfall inside with 3 streams, you should choose one of the stream for your wishes.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

izyphotos
Mascot, Australia679 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
The hugely popular Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera) is a must for most visitors to Kyoto. It is a massive temple complex. Cherry blossoms were beginning to bloom which was beautiful. There are also great views of Kyoto city.

The main hall of Kiyomizu is built out on a veranda onto pillars, a structure constructed without nails. The effect is that of a deck reaching out from the foot of the mountain. Unfortunately, much of this was under renovation when we visited.

Due to Covid, there were less crowds. Take Bus 100 to Kiyomizu Ichi stop and walk about 10 mins uphill. You can walk back via Sannen Zaka and Ninen Zaka Streets.
Written 9 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GoGo2SlowGo
Denton, TX1,467 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
Kiyomizudera also known as the "Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in wooded hills east of Kyoto and derived its name from the fall's pure waters. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. The main hall of Kiyomizudera is built out on a veranda onto pillars. It was completely constructed without nails.
We wanted to visit Kiyomizu-dera because we tried to see as many UNESCO sites as we could.
There are 17 World Heritage sites in Kyoto alone!
Written 20 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kai C
Half Moon Bay, CA1,329 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
This temple is popular for a reason. Nestled against the verdant hill slope it exudes timelessness and spirit. The Covid era is a good time to visit and avoid visitor masses, while taking the time for a lunch in one of the myriad small restaurants on the little roads leading to temple entrance. When I visited there was no access to any of the inner sanctums but even taking the proscribed path was sufficient to impress. You can take the path to the Seikanji temple, and be mindful of the monkeys.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Piotr S
Krakow, Poland236 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Easily accessible by local bus. Good to see after visiting Kinkakuji, due to convenient bus connection. One of the biggest temples in Kyoto, build on the slope of one of the hills surrounding this city. After about 10 minutes of walk from the closest bus stop You can admire one of the best Kyoto panorama from the temple terrace. Temple buildings themselves are built and decorated in beautiful, typical Kyoto style, where extensive sculpturing and orange/red color dominates. There is a short path coming down from the temple buildings, finishing with a small spring. Definitely worth to see.
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hsin-Yi W
Forest Hills, NY934 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Family
Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺), is a Buddhist temple and also a signature landmark in Kyoto.

The temple is classic and magnificent located on the hills. It might be difficult for elders to enjoy the entire tour. There are also lots of rules entering the temple. Tourists need to follow the planned routes without shoes.

The temple is currently under construction and covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding for 2020 Olympics which is postponed to 2021 now.
Written 30 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 5,187
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Kyoto HotelsKyoto Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Kyoto
All things to do in Kyoto
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire