Winter in Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera temple

Witness historic Kyoto at this temple against a backdrop of the magnificent nature of the four seasons: Otowayama Kiyomizu-dera temple

In a continuation of the previous number, this issue also showcases scenes of the old capital of Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera temple, situated in the eastern part of Kyoto, is a historic temple erected on the mountainside of Mt. Otowayama. The temple is said to have been established in 778—even before Kyoto became the country’s capital—by Enchin Shonin. Originally, the temple was known as Kitakannon-dera temple; however the pure water (“kiyomizu”) found in a spring on its grounds, which came to be regarded as a kind of golden immortality elixir to those faithful to Avalokiteśvara, became the basis for the temple’s subsequent name of Kiyomizu-dera. The Otowa Waterfall, home to this pure water, remains well-known amongst visitors to this day. The Kiyomizu stage, which is the temple’s primary tourist draw, is located at the temple’s Main Hall. With an eighteen meter drop, the stage offers a panoramic view of the city of Kyoto.

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