Kiyomizu-dera is the temple everyone photographs in Kyoto: a huge wooden stage hanging off a hillside, built without a single nail, with the whole city spread out below. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is open every day of the year, and it is also the most crowded temple in the city. This guide covers the practical bits — ticket price, hours, the easiest way to get there from Kyoto Station, the one-way route inside, and the time of day when you can actually walk the stage without queuing for a photo.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | ¥500 adults, ¥200 elementary/junior-high students |
| Hours | 6:00–18:00 (until 18:30 in summer; night illuminations until 21:30 in spring, summer and autumn) |
| Closed | Never — open 365 days |
| Time needed | 60–90 minutes for the temple, half a day with the Higashiyama streets |
| Address | 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto |
| Official site | kiyomizudera.or.jp |
Prices and hours are from the official site as of October 2026. Check the official visiting page before you go, especially for illumination dates.
How to get to Kiyomizu-dera from Kyoto Station
There is no train station next to the temple. You take a bus or a taxi, then walk uphill for 10–15 minutes.
- City Bus 206 or 100 from Kyoto Station bus terminal (stop D1/D2) to Gojozaka or Kiyomizu-michi. About 15 minutes, ¥230. Then walk 10 minutes uphill along Kiyomizu-zaka.
- Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, then a 20-minute walk. Useful if you are coming from Fushimi Inari or Osaka.
- Taxi from Kyoto Station: 15 minutes, about ¥1,500–2,000. Taxis drop you at the bottom of the hill, not at the gate.
Avoid the bus between 9:00 and 11:00 if you can — the 206 is standing-room only. If you plan more than three bus rides in a day, the Kyoto City bus one-day pass (¥700) pays for itself.
The route through the temple
Kiyomizu-dera is one-way. You cannot turn back once you pass the ticket gate, so decide where you want to spend your time before you go in.
- Niomon Gate and the three-storey pagoda — free area, the classic orange-and-white photo spot.
- Ticket gate — pay ¥500 here (cash or IC card).
- Main Hall and the wooden stage — 13 metres above the slope. The view is of the city and the Okunoin hall opposite.
- Jishu Shrine — the “love shrine” with two stones you walk between with your eyes closed. Note: the shrine has been under renovation; check if it is open.
- Okunoin Hall — this is where you take the famous photo of the stage. Most people miss that the stage itself is not the best viewpoint.
- Otowa Waterfall — three streams of water; drink from one (not all three — that is considered greedy). Expect a 10–20 minute queue in the middle of the day.
- Exit path along the hillside back to the pagoda.
Best time to visit
- Early morning (6:00–8:00): the temple opens at 6:00 and most tour groups arrive after 9:00. This is the only time you will get the stage nearly to yourself.
- Late afternoon (16:30 onward): groups leave, the light turns gold, and the Higashiyama shops are still open.
- Autumn leaves: mid-November to early December. Night illuminations run roughly 17:30–21:30; expect long queues on weekends.
- Cherry blossoms: late March to early April, also with illuminations.
- Avoid: weekends 10:00–15:00, Japanese public holidays, and Golden Week (late April–early May).
Half-day plan: Kiyomizu-dera and Higashiyama
A simple route that most first-time visitors enjoy, all on foot:
- 8:00 Kiyomizu-dera (enter early)
- 9:30 Walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, the preserved stone-paved streets
- 10:30 Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji) for the pagoda-in-a-street photo
- 11:00 Kodai-ji temple and its gardens
- 12:00 Lunch around Yasaka Shrine or Gion
- 13:30 Continue into Gion or take the bus to Kinkaku-ji
If you want to wear a kimono for these streets, rent it near Kiyomizu-Gojo or Gion first — see our kimono rental guide.
[Affiliate slot: Kyoto skip-the-line tours and kimono rental — Klook / KKday]
Tips
- There are no lockers at the temple. Leave luggage at Kyoto Station.
- The slope is steep and partly cobbled; comfortable shoes, not sandals.
- Toilets are before the ticket gate and near the exit, not inside the main hall area.
- Photography is fine everywhere outdoors; no photos inside the Main Hall.
- The streets below the temple (Kiyomizu-zaka) are full of matcha sweets and souvenir shops — see what to buy in Kyoto.
Nearby
- Gion — 20 minutes on foot
- Fushimi Inari — 20 minutes by Keihan Line from Kiyomizu-Gojo
- Ginkaku-ji and the Philosopher’s Path — bus 100 north
- Nishiki Market — 15 minutes by bus or taxi
Back to the full list of things to do in Kyoto or the 3-day Kyoto itinerary. Arriving by air? See Kansai Airport to Kyoto.
Official information: Kiyomizu-dera · Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · Google Maps
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