Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kiyomizu-dera Temple)

This ancient temple was built around 778 and restored in the 17th century. Thanh Thuy Pagoda was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994. There are many interesting attractions here.

The most prominent attraction at Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the Main Hall, also known as the Kiyomizu Wutai. The main building protrudes out of the cliff, supported by 168 thick columns made of ancient Zelkova wood, 12m high, with the floor made of 410 cypress boards. The details are locked together at the wooden joints, completely without using a single nail. Inside the main hall, there is a statue of Quan Am Buddha with 11 faces and 42 arms. This is considered a national treasure of Japan.

The reason why the temple is called Kiyomizu-dera , or Thanh Thuy, is because it owns three of the freshest springs in Japan, all of which originate from the Otowa waterfall. People here believe that these are the natural waters, symbolizing Truong Tho - Tinh Duyen - Thanh Dat. Therefore, many people come to Thanh Thuy Pagoda to worship and drink water here in the hope that good fortune will come to them. There is a note that should only take a sip in a stream of water, if because of greed, drink many sips or drink water in all 3 lines, then the sacredness will no longer exist.

In the temple area, there is also Jishu-jinja Shrine, which worships Okuninushino-Mikoto - the god of love and matchmaking. There are 2 stones here that many people believe that, if they close their eyes, walking from one stone to the other will help single people soon find a suitable partner.

In addition, some other notable attractions include the 31m high 3-storey tower, one of the tallest towers of its kind in Japan; Bussoku-seki waterfall, which is said to have the footprints of Buddha; and the bell tower, where on New Year's Eve 108 bells will be rung, representing the 108 earthly desires to be overcome in Buddhism.

Visitors can visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple at any time. However, there are 2 best times to visit the temple:

- March-May: Spring, this is the time when the cherry blossom trees around the temple bloom. Perfect place to see cherry blossoms.

- August-October: In the cool autumn, the surrounding forests change their leaves to create a romantic scene.

In particular, on some holidays, the temple will be open to visit in the evening. More information about special festivals can be found on the official website of the Temple.

Note : Currently Kiyomizu-dera Temple is undergoing repairs at the Main Hall, expected to be completed in spring, 2021. However, visitors can still tour part of the Main Hall.

Opening hours of 6:00-18:00. On some summer days will be closed 21:00

Fare:

Free to visit around the temple grounds. However, visitors will have to buy tickets if they want to visit the Main Palace. Tickets are sold in front of the main gate.

Official website : https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/