Japan Part 2: Kyoto's temples

Continuing my weekly Japan travel series, I’ll take you down west to one of Japan’s most-visited tourist spots. Kyoto was Japan's capital from 794 to 1868, before it was relocated to Tokyo. I last visited Japan's ancient capital in 2023, and this was my second time visiting it, as part of my school's study tour.

Inside Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Entrance to the temple

Established in the year 778, many of the temple’s present buildings were built in 1633. The name “Kiyomizu” means “pure water”, and a waterfall which flows in the nearby hills is where the temple took its name. The Otowa no Taki Falls is found below the main stage, where there are three streams that flow from it. Legend has it that when you drink one of those, your wishes may be granted specifically in academic success, success in love, or good health. However, if you drink from all three of them, this may bring misfortune to you.

The main stage of Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera's waterfall, Otowanotaki Falls

There’s a phrase in Japanese, “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu”, which corresponds to “to take the plunge”, in which this 17th-century tradition holds that if one survives a 13-meter jump from the main stage, one’s wish would be granted. More than 200 attempted to literally jump, of which 85.4 percent survived. In 1872, authorities prohibited this practice.

Immediately before the temple is an alley of stores and restaurants, with the structures built in traditional Japanese designs.

Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)

This Buddhist temple dates back to 1397, with the original believed to be constructed in 1399. It has a gold appearance since it purified negative thoughts and feelings towards death, among others. The pavilion was burned down in 1950 by a monk who tried to take his own life. It was subsequently restored in 1955.

Take a look at some pictures:

These two are not the only temples or shrines in Kyoto that you can find. In fact, there are many of them. But these two are the only ones we visited during my school's study tour.

The next blog of this multi-part series is about Osaka and the World Expo. See it here.

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