Apr. 13, 2018 UPDATE

Kiyomizu-dera Temple and its Surroundings

Built in 778, Kiyomizu-dera is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Situated halfway up Otowa mountain, the temple complex covers an area of about 130,000 square meters. Almost all of the buildings in the temple grounds were built around 400 years ago, and are surrounded by lush greenery (including cherry blossom in spring, and red maple leaves in fall), creating spectacular views and stunning scenery that continually attract visitors from all over the world.
There is plenty to see and do within the spacious grounds of the temple, as well as attractions to enjoy before you even pass through the temple gate. For a unique, delicious, and traditional Japanese experience, this is the perfect place.
If you’d like to know a little more about the best way to enjoy Kiyomizu-dera and its surroundings, please bear with us a little longer.
In this special feature article, Sharing Kyoto will introduce a unique perspective on the best way to enjoy the area in 4 parts. We would be extremely pleased if our guide goes a little way to making your visit to Kyoto a pleasurable one.
Part 1How to Enjoy the Temple
The path to the temple gate is long with many very steep slopes (with crowds being the largest during the day). However, once you get there -or even if you are only half way there- you are sure to be welcomed by a number of beautiful views …
Part 2A Tour of Saka — the Slopes
Kiyomizu-dera stands mid-way up a mountain; while the mountain itself is not so tall, the paths up to the temple are full of slopes. Two of the most famous sites on the mountain are Sannen-zaka slope and Ninen-zaka …
Part 3What Would You Like to Eat?
There is a huge variety of cafes and restaurants for tourists in the area around Kiyomizu-dera Temple, both new and old, with some restaurants with histories stretching back hundreds of years …
Part 4Special experiences
There are a few activities that we feel visitors to Kiyomizu-dera Temple really should experience during their trip; they might only take a little time out of your day, but they’re sure to leave you with some wonderful memories and make your visit to the area a truly unforgettable experience …
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