Kiyomizu-dera
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Kiyomizu-Gojō Station · 25 min walk (Keihan Main Line)
- Hours
- 6:00–18:00 (extended to 18:30 in July–August; until 21:30 during seasonal night viewings)
- Admission
- ¥500 (adults), ¥200 (elementary & junior high school students)
- Time needed
- 60–90 min
- Best time to go
- 6:00 AM at opening to view the main hall and grounds before tour bus crowds arrive
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Perched on the slopes of Mount Otowa, this iconic 8th-century Buddhist temple is famous for its massive wooden stage built entirely without nails. Visitors can enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Kyoto framed by cherry blossoms in spring and fiery maples in autumn. Expect a bustling atmosphere as you explore the sacred Otowa Spring beneath the main hall, where you can drink for health, longevity, or success in studies.
What Japanese guides note
Kiyomizu-dera opens at 6:00 AM year-round, providing a quiet window before sightseeing buses congest the Higashiyama corridor. Japanese visitors traditionally link the temple visit with an outward walking descent down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka toward Kōdai-ji and Yasaka Shrine. The entire precinct is an active sacred ground where eating while walking, smoking, and using tripods or selfie equipment are strictly forbidden.
Details from local sources
- Kiyomizu-dera explicitly warns that map applications frequently suggest impassable routes, as foot entry is restricted to only two paths: Kiyomizuzaka leading to the Niō-mon gate and Chawanzaka via the disaster-prevention road. [source]
- Although the temple gates open at 6:00 daily, the goshuin stamp desk and amulet counters do not open until approximately 8:00. [source]
- Temple archives at Jōju-in record 235 leaps from the main stage between 1694 and 1864 as desperate prayers to Kannon, an act later outlawed by the Kyoto prefectural government in 1872. [source]
- Kiyomizu-dera strictly prohibits all tripods, monopods, drones, wedding photography, cosplay, and commercial filming across its entire precinct. [source]
Insider Tip
Arrive at 6:00 AM when the gates open to experience the serene wooden veranda completely crowd-free before the tour buses arrive.
Frequently asked
How can I get to Kiyomizu-dera without getting stuck in bus traffic?
Take the Keihan Main Line to Kiyomizu-Gojō Station and walk east for approximately 25 minutes. Alternatively, ride to Gion-Shijō Station and walk past Yasaka Shrine through the stone alleys. Both walking routes avoid the heavy vehicular gridlock common on Higashioji-dori buses.
Are photography tripods permitted inside Kiyomizu-dera?
No. Kiyomizu-dera bans all monopods, tripods, drones, commercial video shoots, wedding photography, and cosplay throughout the entire grounds. Long-duration photography sessions that obstruct visitor walkways or temple worship are also prohibited, and staff will escort non-compliant visitors off the property.
What time do the grounds open and when can I get a goshuin stamp?
The temple gates open every morning at 6:00 AM, allowing early entry to the main terrace before crowds gather. However, the talisman reception and nōkyō-sho for official goshuin calligraphy do not begin operating until around 8:00 AM.
Can you bring snacks and eat while walking inside the temple grounds?
No. While the approach roads feature numerous food stalls, the temple prohibits eating while walking and outdoor snacking within the gates. Only drinks in sealable containers such as canteens and twist-cap bottles may be carried into the precinct.
Our Kyoto walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
