Kiyomizu Temple　(清水寺)

Kiyomizu Stage

Kiyomizu Temple is one of the most popular Buddhist temples in Kyoto. It was founded in 798, but its present reconstruction dates to 1633. Originally affiliated with the Hosso sect, it has been independent since 1965. It is located half-way up Otowa Mountain in the eastern part of Kyoto city, and while the Main Hall (Hondo) of the temple is designated as a national treasure, the temple has many other important cultural sites.

One of the most famous places of the temples is the Kiyomizu Stage, which is the veranda of the Main Hall extended over a precipice. An old Edo period tradition says that if one were to survive jumping off it, one's wish would be granted. This stage’s 12-meter high keyaki pillars were assembled without using a single nail, and the floor consists of more than 410 cypress boards. Looking out from this stage, visitors experience an amazing view of the city center of Kyoto.